locomotive
loh-kuh-MOH-tiv
/ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/
A powered railway vehicle used for pulling trains.
Refers specifically to the engine car that provides the power, not the passenger or cargo cars it pulls.
The story behind the word. Coined in the early 17th century as an adjective meaning 'moving from place to place.' It was later combined with 'engine' to form 'locomotive engine' (an engine that moves itself), which was eventually shortened to just 'locomotive.'
Word relationships
- engine: Engine is a general term for any machine that converts energy into motion, while locomotive is specifically a railway engine.
- train: A train is the entire connected sequence of cars, whereas the locomotive is just the engine pulling them.
Commonly confused with
- locomotion: Locomotion is the general ability to move from place to place, while a locomotive is the physical train engine.
Word family
- locomotion (noun): Movement or the ability to move from one place to another.
Collocations
- steam locomotive
- diesel locomotive
- electric locomotive
- locomotive engine
Example sentences
- "The steam locomotive revolutionized land transport in the nineteenth century." History of technology
- "A powerful diesel locomotive was coupled to the front of the heavy freight train." Modern rail operations
Memory hook
Locomotive = Local + Motion. It is the machine that puts local places in motion. Locomotive is the engine that moves the train.
When not to use
Do not use to refer to the entire train or the tracks.
Fun facts
- The earliest locomotives were powered by steam, but modern ones are almost exclusively diesel-electric or fully electric.
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