Meaning of train In English

• 0 a railway engine connected to carriages for carrying people or to wheeled containers for carrying goods:

  • a goods/freight/passenger train

  • the train to/from Bristol

  • a train journey/station

  • Did you come by train?

  • She caught/took the train to Edinburgh.

  • Hurry up, or we'll miss (= arrive too late for) the train.

• 1 a series of connected thoughts or events:

  • What amazing train of thought led you from Napoleon to global warming?

  • The book describes the train of events that led up to the assassination.

  • a wagon train

  • a mule/camel train

• 2 the part of a long dress that spreads out onto the floor behind the person wearing it:

  • an elaborate wedding dress with a long train

• 3 to prepare someone or yourself for a job, activity, or sport, by learning skills and/or by mental or physical exercise:

  • She trained as a pilot.

  • [ + to infinitive ] John trained to be an accountant.

  • [ + to infinitive ] I had to train myself to be more assertive at work.

  • She trained hard for the race, sometimes running as much as 60 miles a week.

  • humorous I'm trying to train my kids to pick up after themselves.

• 4 to aim or point a gun, camera, light, etc. at someone or something:

  • With five guns suddenly trained on him, he was understandably nervous.

• 5 to direct the growth of a plant in a particular direction by cutting it and tying it:

  • The vines were trained over an arch, providing shade as well as fruit.

• 6 a railroad engine and the connected, wheeled containers it pulls along the tracks in carrying goods or people:

  • a freight/passenger train

  • a commuter train

• 7 a line of animals, people, or things moving along together, or a series of connected thoughts or events:

  • a mule/wagon train

  • Now I’ve lost my train of thought and forgot what I was going to say.

• 8 the part of a long dress that spreads out onto the floor behind

• 9 to prepare someone or be prepared for a job, activity, or sport by learning skills or by mental or physical exercise:

  • [ I ] She trained as a pilot.

  • [ T ] He trains teachers to use new technology.

  • [ I ] She trained hard for the race, sometimes running as much as 60 miles a week.

• 10 to teach someone the skills and knowledge needed for a particular job or activity:

  • Younger recruits are considered easier to train.

  • It takes at least six years to train a doctor.

  • train sb to be/do sth We trained them to be computer specialists.

• 11 to learn the skills and knowledge needed for a particular job or activity:

  • train as sth He trained as an accountant.

  • train for sth Rebecca is training for her commercial truck driving certificate.

  • train to be/do sth They were training to be pilots.

• 12 a railway engine connected to a group of vehicles for carrying people or goods:

  • catch/take a train He usually wakes up before dawn to catch a train just after 5 a.m.

  • London is two and a half hours away by train.

  • a commuter/freight/passenger train

  • a train company/operator/service