Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

locomotive

/ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.50 in modern English

Syllables: lo-co-mo-tive
IPA: /ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/

17

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

4

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The power unit of a train that pulls the coaches or wagons.

noun

A traction engine.

noun

A cheer characterized by a slow beginning and a progressive increase in speed.

Slang

noun

Any of various early road vehicles, steam-powered, etc., forerunners of the modern car.

Archaic

noun

A country which drives the world economy by having a high level of imports, such as the United States.

adj

Of or relating to locomotion.

adj

Of or relating to the power unit of a train which does not carry passengers or freight itself.

adj

Moving, or capable of motion.

Example Sentences

"As on all other British Railways standard locomotives to date, the lubrication of motion pins and reversing gear is by grease nipple and gun."
"Pindar seems to imply that these figures were actually locomotive automata."

Etymology

From French locomotif, from Latin locō (literally “from a place”) (ablative of locus (“place”)) + Vulgar Latin mōtivus (“moving”) (see motive). In the rail transport sense, ellipsis of locomotive (steam) engine, attested from 1814.

Origin

Source language: French

Word Breakdown

Root: *m(y)ewh₁-, locomotif, locō, mōtivus

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/
British English: /ˌləʊkəˈməʊtɪv/

Usage

Inflected Forms

locomotives (plural) more locomotive (comparative) most locomotive (superlative)

Derived Forms

loci locie locomotiveman hyperlocomotive hypolocomotive locomotiveness nonlocomotive unlocomotive

Phrases

condensing locomotive crane locomotive diesel locomotive electric locomotive locomotive engineer locomotive shed locomotive syndrome Meyer locomotive

Synonyms

engine loco railway engine railroad engine locomotor locomotive engine railway locomotive

Rhymes With

motive automotive emotive nonautomotive

Questions

How do you pronounce locomotive?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/.
What does locomotive mean?: The power unit of a train that pulls the coaches or wagons.
Where does locomotive come from?: It is traced to French.

How to pronounce locomotive

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “locomotive”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “locomotive”.
Repeat and practice — Say “locomotive” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.