locomotive

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]

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌləʊkəˈməʊtɪv/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

locomotive (plural locomotives)

2. (rail transport) The power unit of a train that pulls the coaches or wagons.

   Synonyms: engine, loco

   Hypernym: rolling stock

   Hyponyms: electric locomotive, diesel locomotive, steam locomotive

   • 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.

3. (rare) A traction engine.
4. (slang) A cheer characterized by a slow beginning and a progressive increase in speed.
5. (archaic) Any of various early road vehicles, steam-powered, etc., forerunners of the modern car.
6. (economics) A country which drives the world economy by having a high level of imports, such as the United States.

• loco

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.

• IPA^(key): /lɔ.kɔ.mɔ.tiv/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Audio (Paris):

  (file)

• Homophone: locomotives

locomotive

1. feminine singular of locomotif

locomotive f (plural locomotives)

1. locomotive

• fumer comme une locomotive

• “locomotive”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

locomotive f

1. plural of locomotiva