locomotive

UK: /ˌləʊkəˈməʊtɪv/ US: /ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/ ,(lō′kə mō′tiv)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

lo•co•mo•tive /ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/   n. [countable]

1. Rail Transport a self-propelled railroad engine for pulling or pushing railroad cars.

adj. 

2. [before a noun] of or relating to locomotives.
3. of, relating to, producing, or aiding in locomotion.

See -loc-, -mot-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

lo•co•mo•tive  (lō′kə mō′tiv), n. 

1. Rail Transport a self-propelled, vehicular engine, powered by steam, a diesel, or electricity, for pulling or, sometimes, pushing a train or individual railroad cars.
2. an organized group cheer, usually led by a cheerleader, as at a football or basketball game, that begins slowly and progressively increases in speed in such a way as to suggest a steam locomotive.
3. [Archaic.] any self-propelled vehicle.

adj. 

4. of or pertaining to locomotives.
5. of, pertaining to, or aiding in locomotion or movement from place to place:
   the locomotive powers of most animals.
6. moving or traveling by means of its own mechanism or powers.
7. serving to produce such movement;
   adapted for or used in locomotion:
   locomotive organs.
8. having the power of locomotion:
   an animal that is locomotive at birth.

• Latin locō, ablative of locus place + motive (adjective, adjectival); compare Medieval Latin in locō movērī to change position
• 1605–15

lo′co•mo′tive•ly, adv. 
lo′co•mo′tive•ness, lo′co•mo•tiv′i•ty, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

locomotive / ˌləʊkəˈməʊtɪv/ noun

1. Also called: locomotive engine a self-propelled engine driven by steam, electricity, or diesel power and used for drawing trains along railway tracks
2. (as modifier): a locomotive shed, a locomotive works

adjective

1. of or relating to locomotion
2. moving or able to move, as by self-propulsion

ˌlocoˈmotively adverb

ˌlocoˈmotiveness noun