Library / English Dictionary

TRAIN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Wheelwork consisting of a connected set of rotating gears by which force is transmitted or motion or torque is changed

Example:

the fool got his tie caught in the geartrain

Synonyms:

gear; gearing; geartrain; power train; train

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("train" is a kind of...):

wheelwork (mechanical device including an arrangement of wheel in a machine (especially a train of gears))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "train"):

epicyclic gear train; epicyclic train (a system of epicyclic gears in which at least one wheel axis itself revolves about another fixed axis)

reduction gear (gearing that reduces an input speed to a slower output speed)

Holonyms ("train" is a part of...):

engine (motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Public transport provided by a line of railway cars coupled together and drawn by a locomotive

Example:

express trains don't stop at Princeton Junction

Synonyms:

railroad train; train

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("train" is a kind of...):

public transport (conveyance for passengers or mail or freight)

Meronyms (members of "train"):

engine; locomotive; locomotive engine; railway locomotive (a wheeled vehicle consisting of a self-propelled engine that is used to draw trains along railway tracks)

car; railcar; railroad car; railway car (a wheeled vehicle adapted to the rails of railroad)

Domain member category:

roll-on roll-off (a method of transport (as a ferry or train or plane) that vehicles roll onto at the beginning and roll off of at the destination)

passenger; rider (a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it)

standee (someone who stands in a place where one might otherwise sit (as a spectator who uses standing room in a theater or a passenger on a crowded bus or train))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "train"):

subway train (a train that runs in a subway system)

streamliner (a streamlined train)

passenger train (a train that carries passengers)

mail train (a train that carries mail)

hospital train (a military train built to transport wounded troops to a hospital)

freight train; rattler (a railroad train consisting of freight cars)

car train (a train that transports passengers and their automobiles)

boat train (a train taking passengers to or from a port)

Derivation:

train (travel by rail or train)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Piece of cloth forming the long back section of a gown that is drawn along the floor

Example:

the bride's train was carried by her two young nephews

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("train" is a kind of...):

piece of cloth; piece of material (a separate part consisting of fabric)

Holonyms ("train" is a part of...):

gown (a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions)

Derivation:

train (drag loosely along a surface; allow to sweep the ground)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A series of consequences wrought by an event

Example:

it led to a train of disasters

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("train" is a kind of...):

aftermath; consequence (the outcome of an event especially as relative to an individual)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A procession (of wagons or mules or camels) traveling together in single file

Example:

they joined the wagon train for safety

Synonyms:

caravan; train; wagon train

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Hypernyms ("train" is a kind of...):

procession (the group action of a collection of people or animals or vehicles moving ahead in more or less regular formation)

Meronyms (members of "train"):

Conestoga; Conestoga wagon; covered wagon; prairie schooner; prairie wagon (a large wagon with broad wheels and an arched canvas top; used by the United States pioneers to cross the prairies in the 19th century)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A sequentially ordered set of things or events or ideas in which each successive member is related to the preceding

Example:

a train of thought

Synonyms:

string; train

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Hypernyms ("train" is a kind of...):

series (similar things placed in order or happening one after another)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Exercise in order to prepare for an event or competition

Example:

She is training for the Olympics

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "train" is one way to...):

exercise; work out (do physical exercise)

Verb group:

coach; train (teach and supervise (someone); act as a trainer or coach (to), as in sports)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

training (activity leading to skilled behavior)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Undergo training or instruction in preparation for a particular role, function, or profession

Example:

He trained as a legal aid

Synonyms:

prepare; train

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "train" is one way to...):

learn; read; study; take (be a student of a certain subject)

Verb group:

develop; educate; prepare; train (create by training and teaching)

groom; prepare; train (educate for a future role or function)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "train"):

apprentice (be or work as an apprentice)

retrain (train again)

drill (undergo military training or do military exercises)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s to somebody

Derivation:

trainee (someone who is being trained)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Create by training and teaching

Example:

we develop the leaders for the future

Synonyms:

develop; educate; prepare; train

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "train" is one way to...):

instruct; learn; teach (impart skills or knowledge to)

Verb group:

groom; prepare; train (educate for a future role or function)

prepare; train (undergo training or instruction in preparation for a particular role, function, or profession)

build up; develop (change the use of and make available or usable)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "train"):

toilet-train (train (a small child) to use the toilet)

house-train; housebreak (train (a pet) to live cleanly in a house)

drill (train in the military, e.g., in the use of weapons)

retrain (teach new skills)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

trainee (someone who is being trained)

trainer (one who trains other persons or animals)

training (activity leading to skilled behavior)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Teach and supervise (someone); act as a trainer or coach (to), as in sports

Example:

She is coaching the crew

Synonyms:

coach; train

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "train" is one way to...):

instruct; learn; teach (impart skills or knowledge to)

Verb group:

train (exercise in order to prepare for an event or competition)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Derivation:

trainer (one who trains other persons or animals)

training (activity leading to skilled behavior)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards

Example:

Take a swipe at one's opponent

Synonyms:

aim; direct; take; take aim; train

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Hypernyms (to "train" is one way to...):

position (cause to be in an appropriate place, state, or relation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "train"):

aim; direct; place; point; target (intend (something) to move towards a certain goal)

draw a bead on (aim with a gun)

hold (aim, point, or direct)

turn (direct at someone)

swing (hit or aim at with a sweeping arm movement)

charge; level; point (direct into a position for use)

level (aim at)

sight (take aim by looking through the sights of a gun (or other device))

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something PP
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 6

Meaning:

Drag loosely along a surface; allow to sweep the ground

Example:

She trained her long scarf behind her

Synonyms:

trail; train

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "train" is one way to...):

drag (pull, as against a resistance)

Verb group:

trail (hang down so as to drag along the ground)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

train (piece of cloth forming the long back section of a gown that is drawn along the floor)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Travel by rail or train

Example:

She trained to Hamburg

Synonyms:

rail; train

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "train" is one way to...):

ride (be carried or travel on or in a vehicle)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

train (public transport provided by a line of railway cars coupled together and drawn by a locomotive)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Educate for a future role or function

Example:

They trained him to be a warrior

Synonyms:

groom; prepare; train

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "train" is one way to...):

educate (give an education to)

Verb group:

prepare; train (undergo training or instruction in preparation for a particular role, function, or profession)

develop; educate; prepare; train (create by training and teaching)

check; condition; discipline; train (develop (a child's or animal's) behavior by instruction and practice; especially to teach self-control)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "train"):

dispose; qualify (make fit or prepared)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

trainee (someone who is being trained)

trainer (one who trains other persons or animals)

training (activity leading to skilled behavior)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Teach or refine to be discriminative in taste or judgment

Example:

She is well schooled in poetry

Synonyms:

civilise; civilize; cultivate; educate; school; train

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "train" is one way to...):

down; fine-tune; polish; refine (improve or perfect by pruning or polishing)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "train"):

sophisticate (make less natural or innocent)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 10

Meaning:

Cause to grow in a certain way by tying and pruning it

Example:

train the vine

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "train" is one way to...):

check; contain; control; curb; hold; hold in; moderate (lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "train"):

trellis (train on a trellis, as of a vine)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 11

Meaning:

Develop (a child's or animal's) behavior by instruction and practice; especially to teach self-control

Example:

Is this dog trained?

Synonyms:

check; condition; discipline; train

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "train" is one way to...):

develop; make grow (cause to grow and differentiate in ways conforming to its natural development)

Verb group:

groom; prepare; train (educate for a future role or function)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "train"):

mortify (practice self-denial of one's body and appetites)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

trainee (someone who is being trained)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Upon this, the hurgo and his train withdrew, with much civility and cheerful countenances.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

It is becoming clear that you have been in training to be a leader, and to that end, Saturn arrived to help to widen and enhance your tutelage.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

I have seen it in the train of the Percies.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Those whose training began more than 6 hours later remained afraid of the squares.

(How Our Memory Works, NIH, US)

Never trained that way, you see.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

The father was glad to do it, for he thought: “It will train the boy a little.”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

As I sat, a train of reflection occurred to me which led me to consider the effects of what I was now doing.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

But why do I follow that train of ideas?

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Three-forty is our train, and I fancy we should be back in Baker Street for dinner.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And following the latter train of thought, she soon afterwards added: If any one faculty of our nature may be called more wonderful than the rest, I do think it is memory.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)