train Definition

train
noun

1a. A string of railway carriages or wagons with a locomotive;
1b. loosely
A locomotive.
2. A back part of a long dress or robe that trails behind the wearer.

Thesaurus: locomotive, subway (US slang), el (US slang), elevated (US slang), elevated railroad (US), local, express.
3. The attendants following or accompanying an important person.
4. A connected series of events, actions, ideas, thoughts, etc.

Example: interrupted my train of thought
Thesaurus: sequence, series, string, chain, succession.
5. A number of things in a string or connected line, eg a line of animals or vehicles carrying baggage.
6. A line of gunpowder, etc laid to fire a charge.
7. A set of connected wheels which act on each other to transmit motion.

verb trained, training

1. To teach or prepare (a person or animal) for something through instruction, practice, exercises, etc.

Thesaurus: teach, educate, instruct, tutor; raise, nurture, rear, lead, discipline, mould, guide, shape.
intr
2. To be taught, or prepare oneself to be taught, through instruction, practice, exercises, etc.

Example: trained as a nurse
3. To prepare oneself or them for performance (eg in a sport) by instruction, practice, exercise, diet, etc.

Example: trained for the marathon
Form: train for something
Form: train someone for something
4. To point or aim (eg a gun) at or focus (eg a telescope) on a particular object or in a particular direction.
5. To make (a plant, tree, etc) grow in a particular direction.

Example: train the ivy along the wall
intr
6a. To travel by train;
6b. To make a train journey.

Form: train it

Derivative: trainable
adj

Etymology: 14c: from French trahiner to drag.