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train

n. countable
A1 Beginner Oxford US //ˈtɹeɪn// UK //tɹˈeɪn// train Archaic General-service Informal Literary Slang

n. a long vehicle made of connected parts that moves on metal tracks. It carries people or goods from one place to another.

n. a series of connected railway carriages or wagons moved by a locomotive or by self-propulsion.


SIMPLE

The train arrives at the station.

CONTEXTUAL

We took the morning train to the city for our meeting.

COMPLEX

The overnight train wound its way through the mountains, its whistle a lonely sound in the vast, sleeping landscape.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English trayne (“train”), from Old French train (“a delay, a drawing out”), from traïner (“to pull out, to draw”), from Vulgar Latin traginō, from tragō, from Latin trahō (“to pull, to draw”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *tregʰ- (“to pull, draw, drag”). The verb was derived from the noun in Middle English. For the meaning to teach compare typologically Russian ната́скивать (natáskivatʹ) (akin to тащи́ть (taščítʹ)).

Etymology 2

From Middle English trayne (“treachery”), from Anglo-Norman traine, Middle French traïne, from traïr (“to betray”).

Etymology 3

From Dutch traan (“tear, drop”), from Middle Dutch trâen, from Old Dutch trān, from Proto-Germanic *trahnuz. Compare German Träne (“tear”), Tran (“train oil”).

Usage

Used with the preposition 'by' to indicate the mode of transport (e.g., 'travel by train').

Pitfall

I will go with the train.I will go by train.To describe the mode of transport, use the preposition 'by' without an article (e.g., 'by train', 'by car', 'by bus').

Idioms3 entries

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