locomotive
Locomotive (noun) means the engine unit that pulls the carriages or wagons of a train. Example: “A steam locomotive hauled the vintage carriages along the coast.”
How to use locomotive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe engine that pulls a train — or, as an adjective, anything to do with moving under one's own power.
Word forms
more locomotive comparative, locomotives plural, most locomotive superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A steam _____ hauled the vintage carriages along the coast.
Etymology
From French locomotif, built from Latin locō ("from a place") and a Latin-derived word for "moving." Originally a general adjective for anything self-propelling, it narrowed to mean the train engine specifically from around 1814.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for locomotive
See all rhymes for locomotive →Frequently asked questions
What does “locomotive” mean?
The word “locomotive” means the engine unit that pulls the carriages or wagons of a train. In plain terms, the engine that pulls a train — or, as an adjective, anything to do with moving under one's own power.
How do you pronounce “locomotive”?
“Locomotive” is pronounced loh-kuh-MOH-tihv (/ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “locomotive” in a sentence?
Here is “locomotive” used in a sentence: “A steam locomotive hauled the vintage carriages along the coast.”
What is another word for “locomotive”?
Words with a similar meaning to “locomotive” include loco and engine.
What part of speech is “locomotive”?
Depending on how it is used, “locomotive” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “locomotive” come from?
The word “locomotive” dates back to around 1814 and comes from Latin.
Is “locomotive” a common word?
“Locomotive” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
How many meanings does “locomotive” have?
“Locomotive” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the engine unit that pulls the carriages or wagons of a train.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include locomotive: