railroad

[reyl-rohd]

noun

1. a permanent road laid with rails, rail, commonly in one or more pairs of continuous lines forming a track or tracks, on which locomotives and cars are run for the transportation of passengers, freight, and mail.

2. an entire system of such roads together with its rolling stock, buildings, etc.; the entire railway plant, including fixed and movable property.

3. the company of persons owning or operating such a plant.

4. Bowling.,  a split.

5. railroads, stocks or bonds of railroad companies.

verb (used with object)

1. to transport by means of a railroad.

2. to supply with railroads.

3. Informal.,  to push (a law or bill) hastily through a legislature so that there is not time enough for objections to be considered.

4. Informal.,  to convict (a person) in a hasty manner by means of false charges or insufficient evidence.

   The prisoner insisted he had been railroaded.

verb (used without object)

1. to work on a railroad.

railroad

/ ˈreɪlˌrəʊd /

noun

1. the usual US word for railway

verb

1. informal,  (tr) to force (a person) into (an action) with haste or by unfair means

Other Word Forms

• nonrailroad adjective
• prerailroad adjective
• prorailroad adjective
• unrailroaded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of railroad¹

1750–60; 1875–85 railroad for def. 9; rail ¹ + road

Example Sentences

Having stripped away most of the documentary’s narration and sit-down interviews with Kerr’s family and friends, the film barely explores anyone’s psychology — and Blunt’s railroaded Dawn loses her chance to speak for herself.

From Los Angeles Times

In July, a woman lost her arm after a bike she was holding was hit by a train as she was crossing railroad tracks in Ventura.

From Los Angeles Times

Police responded Tuesday around 1 a.m. to railroad tracks near the intersection of Millbrook Lane and Nuffield Lane, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

From Los Angeles Times

When President Cleveland sent troops to break up a railroad strike and tamp down mob violence against Chinese immigrants, he invoked the Insurrection Act.

From Los Angeles Times

The performing itch returned to Jaramillo when he retired from the Santa Fe railroad in the 1990s and moved back to Southern California.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• rail line www.thesaurus.com
• railway 
• subway