streetcar
n. countablen. 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.
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.
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.
Commonly used in North America; 'tram' is the standard equivalent in most other English-speaking regions.