trolley

noun trol·ley \ ˈträ-lē \

variants: or less commonly trolly

|Updated on: 15 Jul 2018

Definition of trolley

plural trolleys also trollies

1 a : a streetcar powered electrically through a trolley — called also trolley car

b : a device that carries electric current from an overhead wire to an electrically driven vehicle

2 : a wheeled carriage running on an overhead rail or track

3 chiefly British : a cart or wheeled stand used for conveying something (such as food or books)

4 dialectal, England : a cart of any of various kinds

See trolley defined for English-language learners

See trolley defined for kids

Recent Examples of trolley from the Web

As automobile traffic increased, cars and trucks posed hazards for the open-air trolley cars.

— jacques kelly, baltimoresun.com, "Jacques Kelly: Museum's restoration of Car 554 brings back the era of open summer streetcars," 7 July 2018
Fishing kayaks have rod holders (anchors and trolley are available).

— Houston Chronicle, "Houston-area paddling and rowing resources," 10 May 2018
Every student gets a free lunch and cards to travel on the trolley or buses.

— nick canepa, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Kevin Bradshaw's journey: from USIU stardom to homelessness to high school principal," 6 May 2018
The East Troy Electric Railroad — run entirely by volunteers — has 25 electric railroad cars, trolleys and locomotives, some dating to the 1920s.

— chelsey lewis, USA TODAY, "Eight scenic and historic train rides in Wisconsin," 3 Apr. 2018
Younger travelers are also more likely to make use of Little Havana’s free trolleys or public buses, Moebius said, helping to diminish congestion.

— chabeli herrera, miamiherald, "This Little Havana hotel once housed Billie Holiday. Soon, you could stay there, too. | Miami Herald," 13 Mar. 2018
The riverfront trolley, promised in the master plan, is nothing more than a gleam in the city’s eye.

— inga saffron, Philly.com, "Will a new riverfront concert venue close the gap between Fishtown and the Delaware - or widen it?," 28 June 2018
The remaining expenses are for real estate purchases, new Green Line trolleys, and related work.

— sophia eppolito, BostonGlobe.com, "Green Line extension breaks ground — for real, this time," 25 June 2018
The county also is seizing a trolley and two shuttle buses.

— patrick danner, San Antonio Express-News, "Bexar County seizes double-decker buses from San Antonio tour operator," 8 June 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of trolley

probably from ²troll

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1823

in the meaning defined at sense 4

See Words from the same year

trolley

verb

variants: or less commonly trolly

Definition of trolley

trolleyed also trollied; trolleying also trollying

transitive verb

: to convey by a trolley

intransitive verb

: to ride on a trolley

First Known Use of trolley

1882

in the meaning defined at transitive sense

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

TROLLEY Defined for English Language Learners

trolley

noun

Definition of trolley for English Language Learners

: an electric vehicle that runs along the street on tracks
: a vehicle that is pulled along tracks on the ground by a moving cable or that hangs from a moving cable
: a metal basket on wheels used to hold groceries while you are shopping