lo·co·mo·tive
ˌlō-kə-ˈmō-tiv 
1
2
: of or relating to travel
3
: of, relating to, or being a machine that moves about by operation of its own mechanism
1
: a self-propelled vehicle that runs on rails and is used for moving railroad cars
2
: a school or college cheer characterized by a slow beginning and a progressive increase in speed
Examples of locomotive in a Sentence
Adjective
the locomotive ability of spiders
Recent Examples on the Web
Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2025
The most common example of the effect is the way the sound of a train's horn appears to bend as the locomotive thunders past an observer.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 13 Mar. 2025
Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
The video, captured from inside the locomotive, showed the train barreling down the tracks toward a railroad crossing.
—Greg Wehner, Fox News, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for locomotive
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Adjective
The box office achievement is perhaps even more astonishing given China is coming off of a dismal 2024 that saw its yearly gross slide by 25% versus 2023, impacted by economic woes and a lack of locomotive movies to lead audiences into cinemas.
—Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2025
The most common example of the effect is the way the sound of a train's horn appears to bend as the locomotive thunders past an observer.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 13 Mar. 2025
Noun
The Franco-German locomotive is moving again, in the context of major damage has been done to trans-Atlantic relations in the past week by the Trump administration (a sign of this are comments from the Spanish foreign minister for a new approach to relations with China).
—Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
The video, captured from inside the locomotive, showed the train barreling down the tracks toward a railroad crossing.
—Greg Wehner, Fox News, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for locomotive
Cite this Entry
“Locomotive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/locomotive. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
locomotive
1 of 2 adjective
lo·co·mo·tive
ˌlō-kə-ˈmōt-iv
1
: of or relating to locomotion
2
: of, relating to, or being a locomotive
locomotive
2 of 2 noun
: an engine that moves under its own power
especially
: one that hauls cars on a railroad
Medical Definition
locomotive
adjective
lo·co·mo·tive
ˌlō-kə-ˈmōt-iv
: locomotor sense 1
locomotive organs include flagella, cilia, pseudopodia, and limbs
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