3 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A train of thought or a train of events is a connected sequence, in which each thought or event seems to occur naturally or logically as a result of the previous one. □ [+ of ] He lost his train of thought for a moment, then recovered it. □ [+ of ] Giles set in motion a train of events which would culminate in tragedy.
4 N‑COUNT The train of a woman's formal dress or wedding dress is the long part at the back of it which flows along the floor behind her.
5 PHRASE If a process or event is in train or has been set in train , it is happening or starting to happen. [mainly BRIT ] □ He praised the economic reforms set in train by the government. in AM, usually use in motion
➋ train ◆◆◇ /tre I n/ (trains , training , trained )
1 VERB If someone trains you to do something, they teach you the skills that you need in order to do it. If you train to do something, you learn the skills that you need in order to do it. □ [V n to-inf] The U.S. was ready to train its troops to participate. □ [V to-inf] Stavros was training to be a teacher. □ [V + as ] Psychiatrists initially train as doctors. □ [V n + in ] We don't train them only in bricklaying, but also in other building techniques. □ [V ] Companies tend to favour the lawyer who has trained with a good quality City firm. □ [V -ed] I'm a trained nurse. [Also V n] ● -trained COMB □ Mr. Koutab is an American-trained lawyer. ● train|er (trainers ) N‑COUNT □ …a book for both teachers and teacher trainers.
2 VERB To train a natural quality or talent that someone has, for example their voice or musical ability, means to help them to develop it. □ [V n] I see my degree as something which will train my mind and improve my chances of getting a job.
3 VERB If you train for a physical activity such as a race or if someone trains you for it, you prepare for it by doing particular physical exercises. □ [V + for ] Strachan is training for the new season. □ [V n + for ] He has spent a year training crews for next month's round the world race. [Also V , V n] ● train|er N‑COUNT □ She went to the gym with her trainer.
4 VERB If an animal or bird is trained to do particular things, it is taught to do them, for example in order to be able to work for someone or to be a good pet. □ [be V -ed to-inf] Sniffer dogs could be trained to track them down. □ [V n] …a man who trained hundreds of dogs. [Also V n to-inf] ● train|er N‑COUNT □ The horse made a winning start for his new trainer.
5 VERB If you train something such as a gun, a camera, or a light on a person or thing, you aim it at them and keep it towards them. □ [V n + on ] She trained her binoculars on the horizon.
6 VERB If you train a tree, bush, or plant in a particular direction, you tie it and cut it so that it grows in that direction. □ [V n prep] Instead of training the shoots up the fence, lay them flat in both directions alongside it. □ [V n to-inf] You could even put a trellis on your walls and train plants to grow up it.
7 → see also training
▸ train up PHRASAL VERB If someone trains you up , they teach you new skills or give you the necessary preparation so that you will reach the standard required for a particular job or activity. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [V n P ] The company has a policy of employing recent graduates and training them up. □ [V P n] He usually preferred to train up a crew of enthusiastic young sailors from scratch. SYNONYMS train VERB ➋1
teach: She taught Julie to read.
instruct: He instructed family members in nursing techniques.
coach: I had coached the Alliance team for some time.
drilclass="underline" He drills the choir to a high standard.
trainee /tre I niː / (trainees ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] A trainee is someone who is employed at a low level in a particular job in order to learn the skills needed for that job. □ He is a 24-year-old trainee reporter.
train|er /tre I nə r / (trainers )
1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Trainers are shoes that people wear, especially for running and other sports. [BRIT ]
2 → see also train ➋
train|ing ◆◇◇ /tre I n I ŋ/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Training is the process of learning the skills that you need for a particular job or activity. □ He called for much higher spending on education and training. □ …a one-day training course.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Training is physical exercise that you do regularly in order to keep fit or to prepare for an activity such as a race. □ The emphasis is on developing fitness through exercises and training. □ …her busy training schedule. ● PHRASE If you are in training , you are preparing yourself for a physical activity such as a race, by taking a lot of exercise and eating special food. □ He will soon be back in training for next year's National.
3 → see also circuit training , potty training COLLOCATIONS training NOUN
1
noun + training : management, skills, staff; driver, officer, teacher
adjective + training : basic, full, intensive, rigorous; formal, special, vocational; military
verb + training : complete, receive, start, undergo; offer, provide; require