a self-propelled, vehicular engine, powered by steam, a diesel, or electricity, for pulling or, sometimes, pushing a train or individual railroad cars.
an organized group cheer, usually led by a cheerleader, as at a football or basketball game, that begins slowly and progressively increases in speed in such a way as to suggest a steam locomotive.
Archaic. any self-propelled vehicle.
adjective
of or relating to locomotives.
of, relating to, or aiding in locomotion or movement from place to place: the locomotive powers of most animals.
moving or traveling by means of its own mechanism or powers.
serving to produce such movement; adapted for or used in locomotion: locomotive organs.
having the power of locomotion: an animal that is locomotive at birth.
Origin of locomotive
1605–15; < Latinlocō, ablative of locus place + motive (adj.); compare Medieval Latinin locō movērī to change position
Related formslo·co·mo·tive·ly, adverblo·co·mo·tive·ness, lo·co·mo·tiv·i·ty, nounun·lo·co·mo·tive, adjective
1610s, "pertaining to movement," from French locomotif, from Latin loco "from a place" (ablative of locus "place;" see locus) + Late Latin motivus "moving" (see motive). The noun meaning "railroad engine" is from 1829, short for locomotive engine (1814).
