noun
Uncommon
tractor
TRAK-tuh
Tractor (noun) means a powerful farm vehicle used to pull ploughs, trailers, and other heavy equipment. Example: “The farmer drove the tractor across the muddy field.”
noun
1
A powerful farm vehicle used to pull ploughs, trailers, and other heavy equipment.
"The farmer drove the tractor across the muddy field."
"A red tractor pulled the heavy trailer of hay down the lane."
"The boy dreamed of driving a big tractor like his uncle."
2
The front cab-and-engine unit of a large truck, used to pull a separate trailer.
"The tractor unit had jack-knifed on the icy motorway."
"The driver unhooked the trailer and left the tractor parked at the depot."
"A new tractor unit was fitted to haul the long container trailer."
How to use tractor
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA heavy vehicle built for pulling farm equipment or, in trucking, a trailer.
Common pairings
tractor-trailer
drive a tractor
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Word forms
- Plural
- tractors
- Third person singular
- tractors
- Past tense
- tractored
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The farmer drove the _____ across the muddy field.
Etymology
Formed from Latin tractus ("pulled, drawn") plus the agent suffix -or, meaning literally "a puller."
Rhymes for tractor
See all rhymes for tractor →Frequently asked questions
What does “tractor” mean?
The word “tractor” means a powerful farm vehicle used to pull ploughs, trailers, and other heavy equipment. In plain terms, a heavy vehicle built for pulling farm equipment or, in trucking, a trailer.
How do you pronounce “tractor”?
“Tractor” is pronounced TRAK-tuh (/ˈtɹæktɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “tractor” in a sentence?
Here is “tractor” used in a sentence: “The farmer drove the tractor across the muddy field.”
What part of speech is “tractor”?
“Tractor” is a noun.
Where does the word “tractor” come from?
The word “tractor” comes from Latin. Formed from Latin tractus ("pulled, drawn") plus the agent suffix -or, meaning literally "a puller.".
Is “tractor” a common word?
“Tractor” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “tractor” have?
“Tractor” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a powerful farm vehicle used to pull ploughs, trailers, and other heavy equipment.
What is the difference between a tractor and a truck?
A tractor, in the farm sense, is a powerful vehicle built to pull ploughs, trailers, and other heavy equipment, whereas a truck is generally designed to carry cargo itself. In trucking, though, "tractor" refers specifically to the front cab-and-engine unit that pulls a separate trailer, distinguishing it from the trailer it hauls.
What is a "tractor unit" or "tractor-trailer"?
A "tractor unit" is the front cab-and-engine section of a large truck, which connects to and pulls a separate trailer; together the two parts form a "tractor-trailer." This is distinct from a farm tractor, though both share the core idea of a powerful pulling vehicle.
Is "tractor" only used for farm vehicles?
No, "tractor" also describes the cab-and-engine unit of a large truck used to pull a trailer, in addition to the more familiar farm vehicle used to pull ploughs and other equipment.
