WordGarden.iotrolley
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /trˈɒli/
US
- /ˈtrɑli/
Meanings
Noun
a wheeled basket or cart used to carry purchases while shopping
a streetcar or tram that carries passengers through a town or city
a wheeled frame or cart used to move luggage, food, or other loads
More meaningsFewer meanings
a wheeled carrier that runs along an overhead wire or rail in an electrical or lifting system
Beyond the definition
A trolley can mean a few different things. In one common sense, it is a streetcar: a passenger vehicle that runs on tracks in a city. In another very common sense, it is a shopping cart, especially in British English. It can also mean a small wheeled cart or platform used to carry things in places like hospitals, airports, shops, or workshops. So the meaning depends on the situation. If someone says they need a trolley, they might be talking about public transport, groceries, or moving heavy items.
The word "trolley" has a wide range of meanings, but they are all connected by the idea of wheels and movement. One important meaning is a streetcar: a passenger vehicle that runs on rails in a town or city. In American English, this sense often brings to mind older electric streetcars, and some cities still use the word for historic or local rail services.
Another very common meaning is a cart used for carrying things. In British English, a "shopping trolley" is the cart you push around a supermarket. In American English, that is usually called a shopping cart, but "trolley" is still used in some contexts and is widely understood.
The word is also used for other small wheeled carts or platforms. A hospital trolley may carry supplies or equipment. A luggage trolley helps move bags through an airport. In a workshop, a trolley may hold tools or heavy materials. In all of these cases, the idea is simple: it is something on wheels that helps carry or move things more easily.
The transport meaning is linked to the older electric streetcar system, where a "trolley" was originally a wheel or device that ran along an overhead wire to collect power. Over time, the name came to be used for the whole vehicle. From there, the word naturally spread to other wheeled carriers. So whether it refers to a streetcar, a supermarket cart, or a hospital cart, the word usually points to something that rolls and helps move people or things.
Examples
- 1
Shopping
She put the milk and bread in the trolley and headed for the checkout.
- 2
Airport luggage
We found a luggage trolley near the airport exit.
- 3
Hospital supplies
The nurse pushed a trolley full of supplies down the corridor.
- 4
Restaurant service
The dessert trolley was already half empty by the time it reached our table.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Public transport
We took the trolley into the city instead of driving.
- Usage
In some places, trolley means a tram or streetcar.
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- trolleynoun
Forms
- trolleyspluralnoun