# tractor

/ˈtɹæktɝ/ (US) · /tɹˈæktɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tractor
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. farm vehicle

noun · CEFR A2

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

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

- The farmer used his tractor to pull the plough across the muddy field.
- Modern tractors are often equipped with GPS technology to ensure that seeds are planted with centimetre-level precision across vast acreages.

### 2. truck unit

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

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

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

- The driver unhooked the tractor from the trailer and parked it for the night.
- The logistics company invested in a fleet of electric tractors to handle short-haul deliveries between the port and the regional distribution centre.

### 3. aviation/propeller

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

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

For teachers: 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.

- Most small private planes use a tractor design with the engine in the nose.
- The transition from pusher to tractor configurations in early aviation significantly improved cooling efficiency for the rotary engines of that era.

### 4. to use a tractor

verb · CEFR B2

to work on land or move things using a tractor.

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

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

## Examples

- The farmer drives his tractor across the field.
- After the heavy rain, only the tractor was strong enough to pull the truck out of the deep mud.
- Modern agricultural efficiency relies heavily on the tractor, which serves as a mobile power source for various implements like plows, seeders, and harvesters.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.