train

I [[t]tre͟ɪn[/t]] NOUN USES

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trains

1) N-COUNT: also by N A train is a number of carriages, cars, or trucks which are all connected together and which are pulled by an engine along a railway. Trains carry people and goods from one place to another.

The train pulled into a station...

We can catch the early morning train...

He arrived in Shenyang by train yesterday.

2) N-COUNT: with supp, usu N of n A train of vehicles, people, or animals is a long line of them travelling slowly in the same direction.

In the old days this used to be done with a baggage train of camels.

...a long train of oil tankers.

3) N-COUNT: usu sing, N of n A train of thought or a train of events is a connected sequence, in which each thought or event seems to occur naturally or logically as a result of the previous one.

He lost his train of thought for a moment, then recovered it...

Giles set in motion a train of events which would culminate in tragedy.

4) N-COUNT The train of a woman's formal dress or wedding dress is the long part at the back of it which flows along the floor behind her.

5) PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v If a process or event is in train or has been set in train, it is happening or starting to happen. [mainly BRIT]

In a moment the ceremony was in train...

He praised the economic reforms set in train by the government.

Syn:

in motion

(in AM, usually use in motion)

6) PHRASE: PHR after v If something brings problems or difficulties in its train, the problems or difficulties occur as a natural or logical result of it.

The cars have brought in their train a host of other problems.

II [[t]tre͟ɪn[/t]] VERB USES

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trains, training, trained

1) V-ERG If someone trains you to do something, they teach you the skills that you need in order to do it. If you train to do something, you learn the skills that you need in order to do it.

[V n to-inf] The US was ready to train its troops to participate...

[V to-inf] Stavros was training to be a priest...

[V as/in n] Psychiatrists initially train as doctors...

[V n as/in n] We don't train them only in bricklaying, but also in other building techniques...

Companies tend to favour the lawyer who has trained with a good quality City firm...

[V-ed] I'm a trained nurse...

[V-ed] Our workforce is highly trained and competitive. [Also V n]

Derived words:

-trained COMB in ADJ

Mr. Koutab is an American-trained lawyer.

...French-trained Indian troops.

trainer plural N-COUNT

...a book for both teachers and teacher trainers.

2) VERB To train a natural quality or talent that someone has, for example their voice or musical ability, means to help them to develop it.

[V n] I see my degree as something which will train my mind and improve my chances of getting a job...

[V-ed] Some children come to school with more finely trained perceptual skills than others.

3) V-ERG If you train for a physical activity such as a race or if someone trains you for it, you prepare for it by doing particular physical exercises.

[V for n] Strachan is training for the new season...

[V n for n] He has spent a year training crews for next month's round the world race. [Also V, V n]

Derived words:

trainer N-COUNT

She went to the gym with her trainer.

4) VERB If an animal or bird is trained to do particular things, it is taught to do them, for example in order to be able to work for someone or to be a good pet.

[be V-ed to-inf] Sniffer dogs could be trained to track them down.

[V n] ...a man who trained hundreds of dogs...

[V-ed] She had brought her trained sheepdog to help in the rescue. [Also V n to-inf]

Derived words:

trainer N-COUNT

The horse made a winning start for his new trainer.

5) VERB If you train something such as a gun, a camera, or a light on a person or thing, you aim it at them and keep it towards them.

[V n on n] She trained her binoculars on the horizon...

[V n on n] Police cameras had been specifically trained on that area.

6) VERB If you train a tree, bush, or plant in a particular direction, you tie it and cut it so that it grows in that direction.

[V n prep] Instead of training the shoots up the fence, lay them flat in both directions alongside it...

[V n to-inf] You could even put a trellis on your walls and train plants to grow up it.

7) → See also training

Phrasal Verbs:

- train up