locomotive
loh-kuh-MOH-tihv
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.”
noun
1
The engine unit that pulls the carriages or wagons of a train.
"A steam locomotive hauled the vintage carriages along the coast."
"The locomotive was uncoupled and sent to the depot for servicing."
"Children waved as the locomotive pulled into the station, puffing steam."
adj
1
Relating to movement, or to the power unit that drives a train.
"The disease affected the patient's locomotive ability."
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.
Common pairings
steam locomotive
diesel locomotive
locomotive engine
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like locomotive.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- locomotives
- Comparative
- more locomotive
- Superlative
- most locomotive
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 →Antonyms
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:
