single-track
Definition
- Adjective:
- Having only one track: "single-track" describes a railway or road that has only one path for vehicles to travel in either direction, typically requiring coordination to avoid collisions.
- Narrow-minded or limited in scope: "single-track" also refers to a mind or thinking that is focused on a single idea or subject, often to the exclusion of other considerations.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- The mountain railway is single-track, so trains must wait at passing loops. (The railway has only one line for both directions.)
- He has a single-track mind; all he talks about is football. (His thinking is narrowly focused on one topic.)
Advanced Usage
- "single-track mind": a colloquial phrase meaning a person who is obsessively focused on a particular subject or activity.
- She has a single-track mind when it comes to her career — she never thinks about anything else. (Her thoughts are entirely devoted to her career.)
Variants and Related Words
- Single-tracked (adj): an alternative form meaning the same as single-track.
- The single-tracked path through the forest was barely wide enough for one person. (The path was narrow and limited.)
Synonyms
- One-lane: having a single lane for traffic (for roads).
- Narrow-minded: unwilling to consider other ideas or perspectives (for mental state).
- Focused: concentrated on one thing (positive connotation).
Related Idioms
- One-track mind: identical in meaning to "single-track mind," referring to a person who thinks about only one thing.
- Don't ask him about politics; he has a one-track mind about it. (He cannot discuss anything else.)
Additional Notes
- The term "single-track" is often used in both literal contexts (transportation) and figurative contexts (psychology or personality). In figurative use, it carries a slightly negative connotation, implying inflexibility or obsession.