Wiktionary

locomotive

English

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A steam locomotive.

Etymology

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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.[1]

Pronunciation

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Noun

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locomotive (plural locomotives)

  1. (rail transport) The power unit of a train that pulls the coaches or wagons.
    Hypernym: rolling stock
    • 1953 February, “British Railways Standard Class "4" 2-6-0 Locomotives”, in Railway Magazine, page 109:
      As on all other British Railways standard locomotives to date, the lubrication of motion pins and reversing gear is by grease nipple and gun.
  2. (rare) A traction engine.
  3. (slang) A cheer characterized by a slow beginning and a progressive increase in speed.
  4. (archaic) Any of various early road vehicles, steam-powered, etc., forerunners of the modern car.
  5. (economics) A country which drives the world economy by having a high level of imports, such as the United States.

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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Adjective

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locomotive (comparative more locomotive, superlative most locomotive)

  1. Of or relating to locomotion.
  2. Of or relating to the power unit of a train which does not carry passengers or freight itself.
  3. Moving, or capable of motion.
    • 1879, F. D. Morice, Pindar, chapter 8, page 133:
      Pindar seems to imply that these figures were actually locomotive automata.

Translations

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References

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  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “locomotive”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

French

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Pronunciation

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Adjective

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locomotive

  1. feminine singular of locomotif

Noun

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locomotive f (plural locomotives)

  1. locomotive

Derived terms

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Further reading

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Italian

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Noun

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locomotive f

  1. plural of locomotiva
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