locomotive

noun lo-ko-mo-TEEV Rare

Origin: French, from Latin loco (from a place) + motivus (moving)

Usage Note

Locomotive is feminine in French, as is voiture (carriage). Colloquially it can describe any driving force or engine of growth — la locomotive de l'économie. The verb se loger is unrelated; compare locomotion (f) for the general concept of movement.

Examples

"La locomotive siffla en entrant en gare."

Natural Translation

The locomotive whistled as it entered the station.

Literal Translation

The locomotive whistled entering the station.

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