entrain
1 Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
verb (used with object)
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Chemistry. (of a substance, as a vapor) to carry along (a dissimilar substance, as drops of liquid) during a given process, as evaporation or distillation.
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(of a liquid) to trap (bubbles).
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Meteorology. to transfer (air) into an organized air current from the surrounding atmosphere (opposed to detrain).
verb
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(of a liquid or gas) to carry along (drops of liquid, bubbles, etc), as in certain distillations
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to disperse (air bubbles) through concrete in order to increase its resistance to frost
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zoology to adjust (an internal rhythm of an organism) so that it synchronizes with an external cycle, such as that of light and dark
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of entrain1
First recorded in 1880–85; en- 1 + train
Origin of entrain2
First recorded in 1560–70; from Middle French entrainer, equivalent to en- verb prefix + trainer “to drag, trail”; see en- 1, train
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Entrain them on the other side of the yard, and I will have the waggon attached to the train quietly as soon as you have got them in.
From With Buller in Natal, Or, a Born Leader by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)
Entrain, en-trān′, v.t. to put into a railway train, esp. used of troops.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.