trolley
Trolley (noun) means a small cart pushed by hand, used for carrying shopping, luggage, or food and drink. Example: “She wheeled the trolley up and down the supermarket aisles.”
noun
1
A small cart pushed by hand, used for carrying shopping, luggage, or food and drink.
"She wheeled the trolley up and down the supermarket aisles."
2
A streetcar or tram that runs on rails and draws power from an overhead line (chiefly US).
"Tourists rode the old trolley through the historic district."
How to use trolley
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA wheeled cart, or (in American English) a tram.
UK vs US
In British English a "trolley" usually means a shopping or luggage cart; in American English it more often means a streetcar/tram.
Common pairings
shopping trolley
trolley car
push a trolley
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- trolleys
- Past tense
- trolleyed, trollied
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She wheeled the _____ up and down the supermarket aisles.
Etymology
From early-19th-century dialect (Suffolk), probably from "troll" ("to trundle, roll") plus the diminutive ending "-ey."
Class of 1800
trolley joined the language around 1800.
See the full Class of 1800 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for trolley
See all rhymes for trolley →Frequently asked questions
What does “trolley” mean?
The word “trolley” means a small cart pushed by hand, used for carrying shopping, luggage, or food and drink. In plain terms, a wheeled cart, or (in American English) a tram.
How do you use “trolley” in a sentence?
Here is “trolley” used in a sentence: “She wheeled the trolley up and down the supermarket aisles.”
What part of speech is “trolley”?
“Trolley” is a noun.
Where does the word “trolley” come from?
The word “trolley” dates back to around 1800. From early-19th-century dialect (Suffolk), probably from "troll" ("to trundle, roll") plus the diminutive ending "-ey.".
Is “trolley” a common word?
“Trolley” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “trolley” have?
“Trolley” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small cart pushed by hand, used for carrying shopping, luggage, or food and drink.
