tractor

American  

[trak-ter] / ˈtræk tər /

noun

1. a powerful motor-driven vehicle with large, heavy treads, used for pulling farm machinery, other vehicles, etc.

2. Also called truck tractor.  a short truck with a driver's cab but no body, designed for hauling a trailer or semitrailer.

3. something used for drawing or pulling.

4. Aeronautics.

   1. a propeller mounted at the front of an airplane, thus exerting a pull.

   2. Also called tractor airplane.  an airplane with a propeller so mounted.

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tractor British  

/ ˈtræktə /

noun

1. a motor vehicle used to pull heavy loads, esp farm machinery such as a plough or harvester. It usually has two large rear wheels with deeply treaded tyres

2. a short motor vehicle with a powerful engine and a driver's cab, used to pull a trailer, as in an articulated lorry

3. an aircraft with its propeller or propellers mounted in front of the engine

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Etymology

Origin of tractor

1855–60; < Latin trac-, variant stem of trahere to draw, pull + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can ride a pony or take a leisurely trip on a John Deere tractor train.

From Los Angeles Times

Shares of Deere are headed for yet another record on Thursday after the maker of tractors and lawn-care equipment blew past fiscal first-quarter earnings expectations, saying profits in its construction business more than doubled.

From MarketWatch

Deere has struggled from an extended slowdown in the tractor business with farmers cutting back on big-ticket purchases amid challenging farm fundamentals and elevated interest rates.

From The Wall Street Journal

Replanting and repairing the damage without gasoline for tractors or electricity for irrigation is nearly impossible.

From Salon

Instead of buying new equipment and hiring help, he uses an aging tractor and combine.

From The Wall Street Journal