tank engine
/'tæɳk'drɑ:mə/ Cách viết khác : (tank_locomotive) /'tæɳk'loukə,moutiv/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A locomotive that carries its own fuel and water; no tender is needed: A "tank engine" is a type of steam locomotive designed with integrated water tanks and a coal bunker, eliminating the need for a separate tender (a wagon that carries fuel and water for the locomotive).
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The small branch line was operated by a single, reliable tank engine.
- The museum restored a historic tank engine to its former glory.
- Unlike mainline locomotives, the tank engine is more compact and self-contained.
Advanced Usage
- "Tank engine" vs. "Tender Engine": The key distinction is that a "tank engine" carries its own supplies, while a "tender engine" pulls a separate tender. This makes tank engines more suitable for short trips, shunting, or lines with frequent reversals where a tender would be inconvenient.
- For the complex shunting work in the yard, a tank engine was more practical than a tender engine.
Variants and Related Words
- Tank locomotive (n): A full synonym for "tank engine."
- The design is formally known as a tank locomotive.
- Tender engine (n): A steam locomotive that requires a separate tender wagon.
- The express train was pulled by a powerful tender engine.
Synonyms
- Tank locomotive: The formal, equivalent term.
- Self-contained locomotive: A descriptive phrase emphasizing its design.
Related Phrases and Contexts
- Industrial railway: Tank engines were commonly used in industrial settings like factories, docks, and mines due to their maneuverability.
- The quarry's private railway relied on several sturdy tank engines.
- Branch line service: Tank engines were frequently employed on secondary railway lines with shorter distances and tighter curves.
- The quaint tank engine was a familiar sight on the rural branch line.
Noun
- a locomotive that carries its own fuel and water; no tender is needed