railroad

American  

[reyl-rohd] / ˈreɪlˌroʊd /

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.

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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 British  

/ ˈreɪlˌrəʊd /

noun

1. the usual US word for railway

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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

Etymology

Origin of railroad

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

Example Sentences

Conuma’s production pause cascaded far beyond eastern British Columbia as it halted a railroad line, stalled activity at a Pacific Ocean port and complicated steelmaking schedules in Asia.

From The Wall Street Journal

The story was distinctly American, about Robert Grainier, a logger and railroad worker living and working in Washington at the turn of the century.

From Los Angeles Times

Airlines and railroads were also caught in the frenzy.

From The Wall Street Journal

In the wake of that news release—from a company that recently focused on selling karaoke machines—shares of airlines, railroads and trucking firms slid.

From The Wall Street Journal

Contrast the tech companies’ reporting methods with the longstanding approach by two railroad companies, in a quintessentially asset-heavy industry.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• rail line
• railway
• subway