a self-propelled, vehicular engine, powered by steam, a diesel, or electricity, for pulling or, sometimes, pushing a train or individual railroad cars.
2.
an organized group cheer, usually led by a cheerleader, as at a football or basketball game, that begins slowly and progressively increases in speed in such a way as to suggest a steam locomotive.
3.
Archaic. any self-propelled vehicle.
–adjective
4.
of or pertaining to locomotives.
5.
of, pertaining to, or aiding in locomotion or movement from place to place: the locomotive powers of most animals.
6.
moving or traveling by means of its own mechanism or powers.
7.
serving to produce such movement; adapted for or used in locomotion: locomotive organs.
8.
having the power of locomotion: an animal that is locomotive at birth.
Origin: 1605–15; < L locō, abl. of locus place + motive(adj.); cf. ML in locō movērī to change position
A self-propelled vehicle, usually electric or diesel-powered, for pulling or pushing freight or passenger cars on railroad tracks.
A driving or pulling force; an impetus: "The US could no longer serve as the locomotive for the world economy"(George Soros).
adj.
Of, relating to, or involved in locomotion.
Serving to put into motion or propel forward: "It may be that the founding fathers overestimated the locomotive force of the collective and mutual self-interest"(Ian Davidson).
Able to move independently from place to place.
Of or relating to a self-propelled locomotive.
Of or relating to travel.
[Latin locō, from a place, ablative of locus, place + Medieval Latin mōtīvus, causing motion; see motive.]
[loh-kuh-moh-tiv] 
