tractor
UK: ˈtræktə | US: ˈtræktər
n. a powerful motor vehicle with large rear wheels, used for pulling farm machinery or trailers
n. (technical) a device or part that pulls or applies tension
The word tractor originates from the Latin tractus, the past participle of trahere ("to pull, draw"). The suffix -or (from Latin -or, denoting an agent or instrument) was added to form a noun meaning "a thing that pulls." Initially used in the 19th century for mechanical devices, it later specialized to refer to farm vehicles in the early 20th century. The evolution reflects the logic of combining "pull" + "tool" to describe its function.
The farmer used a tractor to plow the field.
Modern tractors are equipped with GPS technology for precision farming.
The tow truck acted as a tractor to move the broken-down car.
In physics, a tractor beam is a hypothetical device that pulls objects remotely.
The antique tractor exhibition showcased models from the 1920s.