locomotive
UK /ˌləʊkəˈməʊtɪv/ · US /ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/ noun, adjective
Forms locomotives
- noun (rail transport) The power unit of a train that pulls the coaches or wagons.
- noun (rare) A traction engine.
- noun (slang) A cheer characterized by a slow beginning and a progressive increase in speed.
- noun (archaic) Any of various early road vehicles, steam-powered, etc., forerunners of the modern car.
- noun (economics) A country which drives the world economy by having a high level of imports, such as the United States.
- adjective Of or relating to locomotion.
- adjective Of or relating to the power unit of a train which does not carry passengers or freight itself.
- adjective Moving, or capable of motion.
Synonyms
engine loco railway engine railroad engine locomotive engine railway locomotive locomotor
Etymology
From French locomotif, from Latin locō (literally “from a place”) (ablative of locus (“place”)) + Vulgar Latin mōtivus (“moving”) (see motive).
In the rail transport sense, ellipsis of locomotive (steam) engine, attested from 1814.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Moving from place to place; changing place, or able to change place; as, a locomotive animal.
- adjective Used in producing motion; as, the locomotive organs of an animal.
- noun A locomotive engine; a self-propelling wheel carriage, especially one which bears a steam boiler and one or more steam engines which communicate motion to the wheels and thus propel the carriage, --used to convey goods or passengers, or to draw wagons, railroad cars, etc. See Illustration in Appendix. Consolidation locomotive, a locomotive having four pairs of connected drivers.
Etymology [Cf. F. locomotif. See Locomotion.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “locomotive”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details