ENGLISH
REFERENCE

tractor

n. · v.
US //ˈtɹæktɝ// UK //tɹˈæktɐ// trac·tor
  1. 1 farm vehicle (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a strong vehicle with large back wheels used on farms to pull heavy machines.

    a heavy-duty motor vehicle with large, high-traction rubber tyres, designed to pull agricultural machinery or trailers.

    Example

    The farmer used his tractor to pull the plough across the muddy field.

    Example

    Modern tractors are often equipped with GPS technology to ensure that seeds are planted with centimetre-level precision across vast acreages.
    • farm vehicle
  2. 2 truck unit (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate American English

    the front part of a large truck that contains the engine and pulls a trailer.

    the powered unit of a semi-trailer truck, containing the engine, cab, and fifth-wheel coupling for towing a trailer.

    Example

    The driver unhooked the tractor from the trailer and parked it for the night.

    Example

    The logistics company invested in a fleet of electric tractors to handle short-haul deliveries between the port and the regional distribution centre.
  3. 3 aviation/propeller (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    an airplane where the propeller is at the front and pulls the plane forward.

    an aircraft configuration in which the propeller is mounted in front of the engine or fuselage so that the aircraft is 'pulled' through the air.

    Example

    Most small private planes use a tractor design with the engine in the nose.

    Example

    The transition from pusher to tractor configurations in early aviation significantly improved cooling efficiency for the rotary engines of that era.
  4. 4 to use a tractor (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to work on land or move things using a tractor.

    to cultivate land or transport loads specifically through the use of a tractor.

    Example

    They spent the whole weekend tractoring the north field to get it ready for planting.

    Example

    After the heavy rains subsided, the crew began tractoring the saturated soil to prevent the formation of a hard crust that would stifle new growth.
Origin

Formed from Latin tractus, perfect passive participle of trahere (“to pull”), + agent noun suffix -or.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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Last updated June 20, 2026