train

train [treyn] SynonymsExamplesWord Origin See more synonyms for train on Thesaurus.com noun

1. Railroads. a self-propelled, connected group of rolling stock.
2. a line or procession of persons, vehicles, animals, etc., traveling together.
3. Military. an aggregation of vehicles, animals, and personnel accompanying an army to carry supplies, baggage, ammunition, etc.
4. a series or row of objects or parts.
5. Machinery. a connected set of three or more rotating elements, usually gears, through which force is transmitted, or motion or torque changed.
6. order, especially proper order: Matters were in good train.
7. something that is drawn along; a trailing part.
8. an elongated part of a skirt or robe trailing behind on the ground.
9. a trail or stream of something from a moving object.
10. a line or succession of persons or things following one after the other.
11. a body of followers or attendants; retinue.
12. a series of proceedings, events, ideas, etc.
13. the series of results or circumstances following or proceeding from an event, action, etc.; aftermath: Disease came in the train of war.
14. a succession of connected ideas; a course of reasoning: to lose one’s train of thought.
15. Astronomy.
    1. the trace of light created by a meteor falling through the earth’s atmosphere.
    2. the tail of a comet.
16. a line of combustible material, as gunpowder, for leading fire to an explosive charge.
17. Physics. a succession of wave fronts, oscillations, or the like.

verb (used with object)

18. to develop or form the habits, thoughts, or behavior of (a child or other person) by discipline and instruction: to train an unruly boy.
19. to make proficient by instruction and practice, as in some art, profession, or work: to train soldiers.
20. to make (a person) fit by proper exercise, diet, practice, etc., as for an athletic performance.
21. to discipline and instruct (an animal), as in the performance of tasks or tricks.
22. to treat or manipulate so as to bring into some desired form, position, direction, etc.: to train one’s hair to stay down.
23. Horticulture. to bring (a plant, branch, etc.) into a particular shape or position, by bending, pruning, or the like.
24. to bring to bear on some object; point, aim, or direct, as a firearm, camera, telescope, or eye.
25. to entice; allure.

verb (used without object)

26. to give the discipline and instruction, drill, practice, etc., designed to impart proficiency or efficiency.
27. to undergo discipline and instruction, drill, etc.
28. to get oneself into condition for an athletic performance through exercise, diet, practice, etc.
29. to travel or go by train: to train to New York.

Origin of train 1350–1400; (v.) late Middle English traynyn to pull or drag in the rear Middle French trainer, Old French tra(h)iner Vulgar Latin *tragīnāre, derivative of *tragīna something dragged or drawn (compare Medieval Latin tragīna carriage), derivative of *tragere to pull, for Latin trahere; (noun) Middle English train, traine 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 Related formstrain·less, adjectivehalf-trained, adjectivemin·i·train, nounmis·train, verbnon·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, adjectiveSynonym study 18, 19. See teach.Synonyms for train See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com 3. convoy. 6. array, arrangement. 10. file, column. 19. exercise, drill, practice, school. Related Words for trained experienced, skilled, qualified, competent, disciplined, schooled, bred, prepared, equipped, practiced, aimed Examples from the Web for trained Contemporary Examples of trained

This is how many public safety officers are trained nowadays.

Red Tape Is Strangling Good Samaritans

Philip K. Howard

December 27, 2014

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

Her daughter, Elaina, 24, a trained costume designer and makeup artist, helps out by sewing clothes.

Inside A Finishing School for Transwomen

Sharon Adarlo

December 27, 2014

Sabrine is a trained lawyer, likely a helpful quality when your task is to push politicians.

A Sunni-Shia Love Story Imperiled by al Qaeda

Ruth Michaelson

December 26, 2014

To them, this is the most personal of relationships, so the small tribute is just to cover basic expenses for them to be trained.

Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau

Ian Frisch

December 20, 2014

Historical Examples of trained

This trained neutrality of Mrs. Bines served her finely now.

The Spenders

Harry Leon Wilson

They carry sticks on which to rest the guns, and their horses are trained to stand still.

The Trail Book

Mary Austin

I trained for six months and then I went as a stop-gap to that office where you saw me.

The Foolish Lovers

St. John G. Ervine

The man, trained so long in border war, was thoroughly in his element.

The Rock of Chickamauga

Joseph A. Altsheler

If hand-craft is of such worth, boys and girls must be trained in it.

Scientific American Supplement, No. 497, July 11, 1885

Various

British Dictionary definitions for trained train verb

1. (tr) to guide or teach (to do something), as by subjecting to various exercises or experiencesto train a man to fight
2. (tr) to control or guide towards a specific goalto train a plant up a wall
3. (intr) to do exercises and prepare for a specific purposethe athlete trained for the Olympics
4. (tr) to improve or curb by subjecting to disciplineto train the mind
5. (tr) to focus or bring to bear (on something)to train a telescope on the moon

noun

6. 1. a line of coaches or wagons coupled together and drawn by a railway locomotive
   2. (as modifier)a train ferry
7. a sequence or series, as of events, thoughts, etca train of disasters
8. a procession of people, vehicles, etc, travelling together, such as one carrying supplies of ammunition or equipment in support of a military operation
9. a series of interacting parts through which motion is transmitteda train of gears
10. a fuse or line of gunpowder to an explosive charge, etc
11. something drawn along, such as the long back section of a dress that trails along the floor behind the wearer
12. a retinue or suite
13. proper order or course

Derived Formstrainable, adjectivetrainless, adjectiveWord Origin for train C14: from Old French trahiner, from Vulgar Latin tragīnāre (unattested) to draw; related to Latin trahere to drag Word Origin and History for trained train n.

early 14c., “a drawing out, delay,” later “trailing part of a skirt” (mid-15c.), also “retinue, procession” (mid-15c.), from Old French train (fem. traine), from trainer “to pull, draw,” from Vulgar Latin *traginare, extended from *tragere “to pull,” back-formation from tractus, past participle of Latin trahere “to pull, draw” (see tract (n.1)).

Train of thought first attested 1650s. The railroad sense is recorded from 1820 (publication year, dated 1816), from notion of a “train” of wagons or carriages pulled by a mechanical engine.

train v.

“instruct, discipline, teach,” 1540s, probably from earlier sense of “draw out and manipulate in order to bring to a desired form” (late 14c.), specifically of the growth of branches, vines, etc. from mid-15c.; from train (n.). The meaning “to travel by railway” is recorded from 1856. Related: Trained; training.

Idioms and Phrases with trained train

In addition to the idiom beginning with train

train of thought

also see:

gravy train