railroad
/ˈɹeɪlɹoʊd/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.32 in modern English
9
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A permanent track consisting of fixed metal rails to drive trains or similar motorized vehicles on.
American usage
noun
The transportation system comprising such tracks and vehicles fitted to travel on the rails, usually with several vehicles connected together in a train.
American usage
noun
A single, privately or publicly owned property comprising one or more such tracks and usually associated assets
American usage
noun
A procedure conducted in haste without due consideration.
Example Sentences
- "Many railroads roughly follow the trace of older land or water roads."
- "Railroads can only compete fully if their tracks are technically compatible with and linked to each other."
- "The lawyers made the procedure a railroad to get the signatures they needed."
- "Gregory Scroggins, a PWA [person with AIDS] in Georgia who was found guilty of assault with intent to commit murder for biting a cop during arrest. It took only three days in October of 1989 to charge, try, convict and sentence Scroggins, who is now serving a 10-year sentence and has been denied bail (and medical treatment) pending appeal. […] Judy Siff of ACT/UP/Atlanta told GCN that Scroggins' case was a "railroad" of unbelievable proportions."
- "The Thatcherite experiment proved the private sector can railroad as inefficiently as a state monopoly."
- "She used to railroad for the Southern Pacific."
Etymology
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈɹeɪlɹoʊd/
- British English: /ˈɹeɪlɹəʊd/
Usage
- American usage
- Transitive verb
- Intransitive verb