English edit

 
A steam locomotive.

Etymology edit

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 edit

Noun edit

locomotive (plural locomotives)

  1. (rail transport) The power unit of a train that pulls the coaches or wagons.
    Hypernym: rolling stock
  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 edit

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

Adjective edit

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 edit

References edit

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

French edit

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

locomotive

  1. feminine singular of locomotif

Noun edit

locomotive f (plural locomotives)

  1. locomotive

Derived terms edit

Further reading edit

Italian edit

Noun edit

locomotive f

  1. plural of locomotiva