/trak"teuhr/ , n.
1. a powerful motor-driven vehicle with large, heavy treads, used for pulling farm machinery, other vehicles, etc.
2. Also called truck tractor . a short truck with a driver's cab but no body, designed for hauling a trailer or semitrailer.
3. something used for drawing or pulling.
4. Aeron.
a. a propeller mounted at the front of an airplane, thus exerting a pull.
b. Also called tractor airplane . an airplane with a propeller so mounted.
[ 1855-60; trac-, var. s. of trahere to draw, pull + -tor -TOR ]