train

[ treyn ]

/ treɪn /

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See synonyms for: train / trained / training on Thesaurus.com

noun

Railroads. a self-propelled, connected group of rolling stock.

a line or procession of persons, vehicles, animals, etc., traveling together.

Military. an aggregation of vehicles, animals, and personnel accompanying an army to carry supplies, baggage, ammunition, etc.

a series or row of objects or parts.

Machinery. a connected set of three or more rotating elements, usually gears, through which force is transmitted, or motion or torque changed.

order, especially proper order: Matters were in good train.

something that is drawn along; a trailing part.

an elongated part of a skirt or robe trailing behind on the ground.

a trail or stream of something from a moving object.

a line or succession of persons or things following one after the other.

a body of followers or attendants; retinue.

a series of proceedings, events, ideas, etc.

the series of results or circumstances following or proceeding from an event, action, etc.; aftermath: Disease came in the train of war.

a succession of connected ideas; a course of reasoning: to lose one's train of thought.

Astronomy.

the trace of light created by a meteor falling through the earth's atmosphere.
the tail of a comet.

a line of combustible material, as gunpowder, for leading fire to an explosive charge.

Physics. a succession of wave fronts, oscillations, or the like.

verb (used with object)

to develop or form the habits, thoughts, or behavior of (a child or other person) by discipline and instruction: to train an unruly boy.

to make proficient by instruction and practice, as in some art, profession, or work: to train soldiers.

to make (a person) fit by proper exercise, diet, practice, etc., as for an athletic performance.

to discipline and instruct (an animal), as in the performance of tasks or tricks.

to treat or manipulate so as to bring into some desired form, position, direction, etc.: to train one's hair to stay down.

Horticulture. to bring (a plant, branch, etc.) into a particular shape or position, by bending, pruning, or the like.

to bring to bear on some object; point, aim, or direct, as a firearm, camera, telescope, or eye.

Archaic. to entice; allure.

verb (used without object)

to give the discipline and instruction, drill, practice, etc., designed to impart proficiency or efficiency.

to undergo discipline and instruction, drill, etc.

to get oneself into condition for an athletic performance through exercise, diet, practice, etc.

to travel or go by train: to train to New York.

OTHER WORDS FOR train

3 convoy.

6 array, arrangement.

10 file, column.

19 exercise, drill, practice, school.

See synonyms for train on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of train

First 1350–1400; (verb) late Middle English traynyn “to pull or drag in the rear,” from Middle French trainer, Old French tra(h)iner, from unattested Vulgar Latin tragīnāre, derivative of unrecorded tragīna “something dragged or drawn” (compare Medieval Latin tragīna “carriage”), derivative of unattested tragere “to pull,” for Latin trahere; (noun) Middle English train, traine, from Old French tra(h)in (masculine) “series of people, animals, or things,” tra(h)ine (feminine) “something dragged behind,” both derivative of tra(h)iner

synonym study for train

18, 19. See teach.

OTHER WORDS FROM train

train·less, adjectivehalf-trained, adjectivemin·i·train, nounmis·train, verb

non·trained, adjectiveo·ver·train, verbpre·train, verb (used with object)self-trained, adjectivesem·i·trained, adjectivesu·per·train, verbun·der·train, verb (used with object)un·der·trained, adjectiveun·trained, adjectivewell-trained, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use train in a sentence

Like the time Besso was sent on a job to inspect some newly installed power lines on the outskirts of Milan but missed his train and then forgot to go the following day.
When Einstein Tilted at Windmills - Issue 93: Forerunners|Amanda Gefter|November 18, 2020|Nautilus
If I listened carefully, I could hear the train whistles in the distance.
Mushroom Hunting at the End of the World|Danny Palumbo|November 12, 2020|Eater
Silently, miserably plugging along on all the tasks dumped on you is not only an express train to breakdown — it’s also not guaranteed to pay off come promotion time.
You deserve a work-life balance, even if you’re child-free in a pandemic|Karla Miller|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
The wind speed was so high it was roaring like a freight train.
What You Can Learn from Living in Antarctica - Issue 92: Frontiers|Marissa Grunes|November 11, 2020|Nautilus

If you’re not quite on board the bitter train yet, go with the easy-sipping Aperol Spritz.
Thanksgiving appetizer recipes and easy cocktails to start the feast off right|Daniela Galarza, Becky Krystal|November 11, 2020|Washington Post
Indeed, some of those troops who ran away from defending Mosul were already American-trained.
Pentagon Insider on New Plan to Fight ISIS: ‘Of Course It’s Not Enough’|Nancy A. Youssef|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Pentagon officials could not say how many are being trained in Taji.
Pentagon Insider on New Plan to Fight ISIS: ‘Of Course It’s Not Enough’|Nancy A. Youssef|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Had they been properly trained, they could and should have flown themselves safely out of the emergency.
Flight 8501 Poses Question: Are Modern Jets Too Automated to Fly?|Clive Irving|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
We have reached a tipping point in the culture where Americans are now trained to look to the rules instead of their own judgment.
Red Tape Is Strangling Good Samaritans|Philip K. Howard|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This is how many public safety officers are trained nowadays.
Red Tape Is Strangling Good Samaritans|Philip K. Howard|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He plays beautifully, and was trained in the famous Brussels conservatory, of which Dupont is the head.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
Few of us ever made a proper use of models, and nearly all of us have miserably trained hands.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
An extra 50,000 men to feed war-trained units already in the field is another, and very different, and very much better thing.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
For if I had power to train a son of mine to righteousness, and I trained him to wickedness, should I not sin against my son?
God and my Neighbour|Robert Blatchford
Aguinaldo was therefore able to escape north with his army, reinforced by native troops who had been trained in Spanish service.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman

British Dictionary definitions for train

train

/ (treɪn) /

verb

(tr) to guide or teach (to do something), as by subjecting to various exercises or experiencesto train a man to fight

(tr) to control or guide towards a specific goalto train a plant up a wall

(intr) to do exercises and prepare for a specific purposethe athlete trained for the Olympics

(tr) to improve or curb by subjecting to disciplineto train the mind

(tr) to focus or bring to bear (on something)to train a telescope on the moon

noun

a line of coaches or wagons coupled together and drawn by a railway locomotive
(as modifier)a train ferry

a sequence or series, as of events, thoughts, etca train of disasters

a procession of people, vehicles, etc, travelling together, such as one carrying supplies of ammunition or equipment in support of a military operation

a series of interacting parts through which motion is transmitteda train of gears

a fuse or line of gunpowder to an explosive charge, etc

something drawn along, such as the long back section of a dress that trails along the floor behind the wearer

a retinue or suite

proper order or course

Derived forms of train

trainable, adjectivetrainless, adjective

Word Origin for train

C14: from Old French trahiner, from Vulgar Latin tragīnāre (unattested) to draw; related to Latin trahere to drag

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with train

train

In addition to the idiom beginning with train

train of thought

also see:

gravy train

train

OTHER WORDS FOR train

Origin of train

synonym study for train

OTHER WORDS FROM train

Words related to train

How to use train in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for train

Derived forms of train

Word Origin for train

Other Idioms and Phrases with train