I. ˈtrān noun
Etymology: Middle English traine treachery, from Anglo-French, from trahir to betray, from Latin tradere — more at traitor
Date: 14th century
obsolete : scheme , trick
II. noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from trainer to draw, drag
Date: 14th century
1. : a part of a gown that trails behind the wearer
2.
a. : retinue , suite
b. : a moving file of persons, vehicles, or animals
3. : the vehicles, personnel, and sometimes animals that furnish supply, maintenance, and evacuation services to a combat unit
4.
a. : order of occurrence leading to some result — often used in the phrase in train
this humiliating process had been in train for decades — Paul Fussell
b. : an orderly succession
a train of thought
c. : accompanying or resultant circumstances : aftermath
consequences the discovery will bring in its train
5. : a line of combustible material laid to lead fire to a charge
6. : a series of moving mechanical parts (as gears) that transmit and modify motion
a gear train
7.
a. : a connected line of railroad cars with or without a locomotive
b. : an automotive tractor with one or more trailer units
8. : a series of parts or elements that together constitute a system for producing a result and especially for carrying on a process (as of manufacture) automatically
• train·ful ˈtrān-ˌfu̇l noun
III. verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French trainer, from Vulgar Latin * traginare; akin to Latin trahere to draw
Date: 15th century
transitive verb
1. : trail , drag
2. : to direct the growth of (a plant) usually by bending, pruning, and tying
3.
a. : to form by instruction, discipline, or drill
b. : to teach so as to make fit, qualified, or proficient
4. : to make prepared (as by exercise) for a test of skill
5. : to aim at an object or objective : direct
train ed his camera on the deer
train ing every effort toward success
intransitive verb
1. : to undergo instruction, discipline, or drill
2. : to go by train
Synonyms: see teach
• train·abil·i·ty ˌtrā-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē noun
• train·able ˈtrā-nə-bəl adjective