26984 words

railroad

9 definitions • 19 examples
1
the metal tracks on which trains run:

Examples:

We live close to the railroad line.
She travelled across Siberia on the Trans-Siberian railroad.
2
the system of tracks, stations, trains, etc.:

Examples:

a railroad station/timetable/siding
Thomas Grant worked on the railroad(s) for 50 years.
3
to force something to happen or force someone to do something, especially quickly or unfairly:

Examples:

We were railroaded into signing the agreement.
4
(of a room or building) long and narrow:

Examples:

In her railroad apartment, one room follows the next.
We extended the old railroad kitchen and now have a large, open-plan kitchen-diner.
5

Examples:

railroad tracks
a railroad station
the Pennsylvania Railroad
6
to force something to happen or force someone to do something, esp. quickly and unfairly:

Examples:

We feel that our client was railroaded into pleading guilty.
7

Examples:

A potential client turned down the site because it isn't near a railroad.
a railroad car/track/bridge, etc. Downtown is bordered at one end by railroad tracks, the other end by a bayou.
a railroad depot/station
8
the companies, work, and people involved in transporting people and goods by train:

Examples:

We understand the railroads need to make a profit.
After dropping out of school, he worked on the railroad.
9
to force somebody to do or accept something without allowing them to refuse:

Examples:

railroad sb into doing sth We felt we were being railroaded into accepting a deal.
railroad sb into sth We could be railroaded into a merger.
Unfortunately, this scheme is being railroaded through Westminster under the pretext of immigration control.

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