Search results for 'train':

train noun 1 a a string of railway carriages or wagons with a locomotive; b loosely a locomotive. 2 a back part of a long dress or robe that trails behind the wearer. 3 the attendants following or accompanying an important person. 4 a connected series of events, actions, ideas, thoughts, etc • interrupted my train of thought. 5 a number of things in a string or connected line, eg a line of animals or vehicles carrying baggage. 6 a line of gunpowder, etc laid to fire a charge. 7 a set of connected wheels which act on each other to transmit motion. verb (trained, training) 1 to teach or prepare (a person or animal) for something through instruction, practice, exercises, etc. 2 intrans to be taught, or prepare oneself to be taught, through instruction, practice, exercises, etc • trained as a nurse. 3 (train for something or train someone for something) to prepare oneself or them for performance (eg in a sport) by instruction, practice, exercise, diet, etc • trained for the marathon. 4 to point or aim (eg a gun) at or focus (eg a telescope) on a particular object or in a particular direction. 5 to make (a plant, tree, etc) grow in a particular direction • train the ivy along the wall. 6 a intrans to travel by train; b (train it) to make a train journey. trainable adj.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c: from French trahiner to drag.