Word
streetcar
Phoneticsstreet·car
US/ˈstɹitˌkɑɹ/
UK/stɹˈiːtkɑː/
Definition
n. a vehicle that travels on metal tracks in the middle of city streets to carry passengers. It looks like a bus but runs on electricity from a wire above the road.
n. a public transport vehicle that runs on rails embedded in the surface of urban streets, typically powered by overhead electric cables. Common in North American English; often referred to as a 'tram' in British English.
Examples
“The streetcar stops right in front of the museum.”
“Many commuters prefer taking the streetcar because it avoids the heavy traffic on the main boulevard.”
“The city's historic streetcar line serves as both a functional transit route for residents and a popular attraction for tourists seeking a nostalgic view of the downtown district.”
Examples
simple
“The streetcar stops right in front of the museum.”
contextual
“Many commuters prefer taking the streetcar because it avoids the heavy traffic on the main boulevard.”
complex
“The city's historic streetcar line serves as both a functional transit route for residents and a popular attraction for tourists seeking a nostalgic view of the downtown district.”
Usage
Commonly used in North America; 'tram' is the standard equivalent in most other English-speaking regions.
Real-World Examples
“In 1957 a trolley from the privately owned Queensborough Bridge Line made its final journey across the span, marking the end of a 125-year era of streetcar service in the city.” “Newark Car Lines Set to End Service Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. NEWARK, N.J., July 31—Market Street, which has been home to streetcars for nearly a century, dating back to the horse-drawn cars operated by the Pennsylvania Railroad, will see its last trolleys by 2 AM tomorrow.” Etymology
From street + car. Coined before the era of motorcars, the term emphasized a type of car on rails that were in the street (along with foot traffic, wagons, and carriages) rather than on a separate, dedicated railroad, as a railcar is.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
In Literature
A Streetcar Named Desire · 1947-01-01 · Southern gothic
- Author:
- Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Williams’s famous play follows Blanche DuBois as she arrives in a gritty New Orleans neighborhood by taking a public vehicle known as a 'Desire' line. The title uses this mode of transport as a metaphor for the characters' driven, often destructive, emotional journeys. As Blanche attempts to start over in her sister's cramped apartment, the constant presence of the tracks outside reflects the rigid path her life has taken.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/streetcar