1

locomotive

adjective lo·co·mo·tive \ ˌlō-kə-ˈmō-tiv \

|Updated on: 12 Jul 2018

Examples: locomotive in a Sentence

Definition of locomotive

1 : locomotory

2 : of or relating to travel

3 : of, relating to, or being a machine that moves about by operation of its own mechanism

See locomotive defined for English-language learners

See locomotive defined for kids

Examples of locomotive in a Sentence

the locomotive ability of spiders

Recent Examples of locomotive from the Web

The 1950s: Brother X and Brother Not X collected toy trains with everything from a locomotive whistle to a helicopter-launching car thundering along the track.

— kevin fisher-paulson, SFChronicle.com, "On the town — or in this house, many towns," 3 July 2018
Now, thanks to an analysis of data collected from 40,000 smartphone users around the world, a new property of humanity’s locomotive habits has been revealed.

— The Economist, "At any given time in their lives, people have two dozen regular haunts," 28 June 2018
The two businesses, coupled with its railroad locomotive unit that is being sold, accounted for a third of GE’s $122 billion in revenue last year.

— thomas gryta, WSJ, "GE Narrows Focus to Power, Aviation in Latest Revamp," 26 June 2018
Weeks later, the South African media revealed the majority owner of Trillian as none other than Salim Essa, the Gupta associate whose shell companies had received more than $100 million in the locomotive deal.

— New York Times, "How McKinsey Lost Its Way in South Africa," 26 June 2018
The largest divestiture this year is an $11 billion deal to sell its locomotive unit.

— alexander coolidge, Cincinnati.com, "GE breakup so far eludes Nelson Peltz. What does that mean for P&G?," 25 June 2018
Long-Term Research Studies in the past have looked at animals’ locomotive performance, or their ability to move, and at their survival rates.

— National Geographic, "Birds That Leave Nest Too Late Can Endanger Their Families," 25 June 2018
Aircraft jobs have replaced locomotive jobs, services jobs replace agricultural jobs, and agriculture is at less than 2% of the jobs in the United States versus 41% in 1900.

— recode staff, Recode, "Full video and transcript: Kleiner Perkins’ Mary Meeker at Code 2018," 31 May 2018
When idling, the turning of the 3,200-horsepower engine imparts a rhythmic, seat-of-your-pants rocking feel to the locomotive cab.

— kevin spear, OrlandoSentinel.com, "SunRail trains driven by women engineers for 1st time," 30 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'locomotive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of locomotive

1612

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

2

locomotive

noun

Definition of locomotive

1 : a self-propelled vehicle that runs on rails and is used for moving railroad cars

2 : a school or college cheer characterized by a slow beginning and a progressive increase in speed

See locomotive defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of locomotive from the Web

Quinn said that’s because the agency spent significantly more than usual in the 2018 fiscal year on the Purple Line, MARC locomotives and positive train control, a renovation of the Kirk Bus Division, a light rail overhaul and new metro cars.

— colin campbell, baltimoresun.com, "BaltimoreLink 'has not delivered on promises,' rider advocate report says," 5 July 2018
That shorter list includes parts for aircraft-engine turbines, submersible electric pumps, locomotives and steam boilers.

— theo francis, WSJ, "Caught in Trump’s Trade Fight: GE Factories in Wisconsin, South Carolina," 24 June 2018
Being more powerful than a locomotive is easier than that.

— Time, "How ‘Incredibles 2’ Shows What It Means to Be Human," 14 June 2018
Each train consists of two or three cars and a locomotive.

— kevin spear, OrlandoSentinel.com, "SunRail trains driven by women engineers for 1st time," 30 May 2018
The cabin was set up like a diesel locomotive from the Deutsche Reichsbahn.

— Washington Post, "Volunteers work to save vintage train simulator in Berlin," 12 May 2018
More panels illustrate the evolution of transportation from a chariot to a locomotive.

— carson bear, USA TODAY, "Historic train stations converted into hotels," 1 May 2018
In exchange for the eight-week lease of the cars, NJ Transit is giving Maryland a locomotive that was slated for retirement.

— Fox News, "Overcrowded New Jersey Transit gets rail cars from Maryland," 1 May 2018
The lights will go instead under the heavily customized front grill, which on the original vehicle was the size of a locomotive's cowcatcher.

— jesse leavenworth, courant.com, "'46 Chevrolet Panel Truck In Lebanon Customized To Deliver A Memorable Ride," 27 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'locomotive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of locomotive

1829

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

LOCOMOTIVE Defined for English Language Learners

locomotive

adjective

Definition of locomotive for English Language Learners

: of or relating to movement from place to place : of or relating to locomotion

locomotive

noun

Definition of locomotive for English Language Learners

: the vehicle that produces the power that pulls a train

LOCOMOTIVE Defined for Kids

locomotive

noun lo·co·mo·tive \ ˌlō-kə-ˈmō-tiv \

Definition of locomotive for Students

: a vehicle that moves under its own power and is used to haul cars on a railroad

Medical Dictionary

locomotive

adjective lo·co·mo·tive \ ˌlō-kə-ˈmōt-iv \

medical Definition of locomotive

: locomotor 1

locomotive organs include flagella, cilia, pseudopodia, and limbs

Learn More about locomotive

See words that rhyme with locomotive Spanish Central: Translation of locomotive Nglish: Translation of locomotive for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of locomotive for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about locomotive

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BROWSE DICTIONARY

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