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]

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

• Audio (US):

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locomotive (plural locomotives)

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

   Synonyms: engine, loco, (UK) railway engine, (US) railroad engine

   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:

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• Audio (Paris):

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• Audio (France (Vosges)):

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• Audio (France (Lyon)):

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• Audio (France (Somain)):

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• 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

locomotive

1. feminine plural of locomotivo

locomotive f

1. inflection of locomotivă:
   1. indefinite plural
   2. indefinite genitive/dative singular