the process of bringing a person, etc to an agreed standard of proficiency, etc by practice and instruction (as modifier): training college - in training ⇒
undergoing physical training physically fit - out of training ⇒
physically unfit
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
train•ing /ˈtreɪnɪŋ/USA pronunciation
n. [uncountable]the condition of having been trained, with reference to how well or badly one has been trained:He's out of training.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025- the act of someone who trains;
the state of being trained:He received no formal training in the new technology. He's in training for the big match.
train /treɪn/USA pronunciation
n.
v.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- Rail Transporta connected group of railroad cars: [countable]a long freight train of about 100 cars.[uncountable* by + ~]only travels by train or bus.
- [countable] a line or procession of persons, vehicles, etc.
- something drawn along, as a part of a long dress that trails behind on the ground:[countable]the bride's white dress and long train.
- a course or path in one's thinking or reasoning:[countable]I've lost my train of thought.
v.
- to develop the habits, thoughts, or behavior of (a child) by teaching or discipline: [~ + object + to + verb]to train him to be kind to animals.[~ + object]to train her in the ways of the church.
- to (cause to) become skilled in some work by teaching or practice: [~ + object]Merlin trained her in the arts of sorcery.[~ + object + to + verb]His father trained him to fix cars.[no object]She trained as an apprentice.
- to (cause to) become fit by proper exercise, diet, etc., as for an athletic performance: [~ + object]trained him in boxing.[no object]trained for the race by running twenty miles a day.
- to discipline (an animal), as in the performance of tasks or tricks: [~ + object][~ + object]She trained her dog.[~ + object + to + verb]She trained her dog to obey commands.
- Botany[~ + object] to bring (a plant, etc.) into a particular shape or direction, by bending, cutting, etc.
- to bring (a gun, a camera, etc.) to focus on an object:[~ + object]Six guns were trained on him, so he dropped his weapon.
- Rail Transport[no object] to travel or go by train.
train•ing
(trā′ning),USA pronunciation n.
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- the education, instruction, or discipline of a person or thing that is being trained:He's in training for the Olympics.
- the status or condition of a person who has been trained:athletes in top training.
adj.
- of, pertaining to, or used in or for training:a training manual.
- intended for use during an introductory, learning, or transitional period:a training cup for weaning a baby; a training bra.
- 1400–50; late Middle English (noun, nominal); see train, -ing1, -ing2
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See education.
train (trān),USA pronunciation
n.
v.t.
v.i.
train ′less, adj.
- [Railroads.]a self-propelled, connected group of rolling stock.
- a line or procession of persons, vehicles, animals, etc., traveling together.
- [Mil.]an aggregation of vehicles, animals, and personnel accompanying an army to carry supplies, baggage, ammunition, etc.
- a series or row of objects or parts.
- [Mach.]a connected set of three or more rotating elements, usually gears, through which force is transmitted, or motion or torque changed.
- order, esp. proper order:Matters were in good train.
- something that is drawn along;
a trailing part. - an elongated part of a skirt or robe trailing behind on the ground.
- a trail or stream of something from a moving object.
- a line or succession of persons or things following one after the other.
- a body of followers or attendants;
retinue. - a series of proceedings, events, ideas, etc.
- the series of results or circumstances following or proceeding from an event, action, etc.;
aftermath:Disease came in the train of war. - a succession of connected ideas;
a course of reasoning:to lose one's train of thought. - [Astron.]
- the trace of light created by a meteor falling through the earth's atmosphere.
- the tail of a comet.
- a line of combustible material, as gunpowder, for leading fire to an explosive charge.
- [Physics.]a succession of wave fronts, oscillations, or the like.
v.t.
- to develop or form the habits, thoughts, or behavior of (a child or other person) by discipline and instruction:to train an unruly boy.
- to make proficient by instruction and practice, as in some art, profession, or work:to train soldiers.
- to make (a person) fit by proper exercise, diet, practice, etc., as for an athletic performance.
- to discipline and instruct (an animal), as in the performance of tasks or tricks.
- to treat or manipulate so as to bring into some desired form, position, direction, etc.:to train one's hair to stay down.
- [Hort.]to bring (a plant, branch, etc.) into a particular shape or position, by bending, pruning, or the like.
- to bring to bear on some object;
point, aim, or direct, as a firearm, camera, telescope, or eye. - to entice;
allure.
v.i.
- to give the discipline and instruction, drill, practice, etc., designed to impart proficiency or efficiency.
- to undergo discipline and instruction, drill, etc.
- to get oneself into condition for an athletic performance through exercise, diet, practice, etc.
- to travel or go by train:to train to New York.
- Old French tra(h)in (masculine) series of people, animals, or things, tra(h)ine (feminine) something dragged behind, both derivative of tra(h)iner
- Vulgar Latin *tragīnāre, derivative of *tragīna something dragged or drawn (compare Medieval Latin tragīna carriage), derivative of *tragere to pull, for Latin trahere; (noun, nominal) Middle English train, traine
- Middle French trainer, Old French tra(h)iner
- (verb, verbal) late Middle English traynyn to pull or drag in the rear 1350–1400
- 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged convoy.
- 6.See corresponding entry in Unabridged array, arrangement.
- 10.See corresponding entry in Unabridged file, column.
- 18, 19.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See teach.
- 19.See corresponding entry in Unabridged exercise, drill, practice, school.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
- (transitive)
to guide or teach (to do something), as by subjecting to various exercises or experiences - (transitive)
to control or guide towards a specific goal: to train a plant up a wall - (intransitive)
to do exercises and prepare for a specific purpose - (transitive)
to improve or curb by subjecting to discipline: to train the mind - (transitive)
to focus or bring to bear (on something): to train a telescope on the moon
a line of coaches or wagons coupled together and drawn by a railway locomotive a sequence or series, as of events, thoughts, etc: a train of disasters a procession of people, vehicles, etc, travelling together, such as one carrying supplies of ammunition or equipment in support of a military operation a series of interacting parts through which motion is transmitted: a train of gears a fuse or line of gunpowder to an explosive charge, etc something drawn along, such as the long back section of a dress that trails along the floor behind the wearer a retinue or suite