locomotive
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locomotive
- /ˌləʊkəˈməʊtɪv/ UK
- /ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/ US
Where it comes from
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.
noun locomotives
-
The power unit of a train that pulls the coaches or wagons.
As on all other British Railways standard locomotives to date, the lubrication of motion pins and reversing gear is by grease nipple and gun.
Similar: engine, loco, railway engine, railroad engine
- A traction engine.
- A cheer characterized by a slow beginning and a progressive increase in speed.
- Any of various early road vehicles, steam-powered, etc., forerunners of the modern car.
- A country which drives the world economy by having a high level of imports, such as the United States.
adjective more locomotive · most locomotive
- Of or relating to locomotion.
- Of or relating to the power unit of a train which does not carry passengers or freight itself.
- Moving, or capable of motion. Pindar seems to imply that these figures were actually locomotive automata.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: engine, locomotor, locomotive engine, railway locomotive, subway, driver, rail, tugboat, motorcycle, motor, hydrant, machine, cabin, powerhouse, trailer, train
Translations
Every language
noun self-propelled vehicle that runs on rails
| Español | locomotora |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 기관차 gigwancha |
| 日本語 | 汽車 kisha, 機関車 kikansha |
| 中文 | 機車 /机车 jīchē, 火車頭 /火车头 huǒchētóu, 機車頭 /机车头 jīchētóu |
| हिन्दी | लोकोमोटिव lokomoṭiv |
| Português | locomotiva |
| Français | locomotive |
| Deutsch | Lokomotive |
| Italiano | locomotiva, motrice |
| Ελληνικά | ατμομηχανή atmomichaní, μηχανή michaní |
| Română | locomotivă |
| Русский | локомоти́в lokomotív, парово́з parovóz, теплово́з teplovóz, электрово́з elektrovóz |
| Tiếng Việt | đầu máy |
| العربية | قَاطِرَة qāṭira |
| עברית | קַטָּר katár |
adj relating to locomotion
| Español | locomotor |
|---|---|
| Português | locomotor |
| Deutsch | lokomotorisch |
| Italiano | locomotivo |
| Ελληνικά | κινητήριος kinitírios |
| Română | locomotor |
Talk about this word "locomotive." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/locomotive. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. locomotive. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/locomotive "locomotive." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/locomotive.Cite this
@misc{locomotive_2026,
title = {locomotive},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/locomotive},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
