trolley

1 of 2

noun

trol·​ley ˈträ-lē 

variants or less commonly trolly

plural trolleys also trollies

1

a

: a streetcar powered electrically through a trolley

called also trolley car

b

: a device that carries electric current from an overhead wire to an electrically driven vehicle

2

: a wheeled carriage running on an overhead rail or track

3

chiefly British : a cart or wheeled stand used for conveying something (such as food or books)

4

dialectal, England : a cart of any of various kinds

trolley

2 of 2

verb

variants or less commonly trolly

trolleyed also trollied; trolleying also trollying

transitive verb

: to convey by a trolley

intransitive verb

: to ride on a trolley

Examples of trolley in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Optimism had hit the showers and grabbed the trolley for San Ysidro. —Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 May 2024

Powered by the electricity from the city’s trolley line, engineer James Hodge’s invention featured two lights: red and green, the colors long used by railroads. —Jeff McMurray, Fortune, 11 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably from troll entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

1823, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

1882, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing trolley

• off one's trolley
• trackless trolley

Kids Definition

trolley

noun

trol·​ley

variants also trolly

ˈträl-ē

plural trolleys also trollies

1

a

: a device for carrying current from a wire to an electrically driven vehicle

b

: a streetcar that runs on tracks and gets its electric power through a trolley

called also trolley car

2

: a wheeled carriage running on an overhead rail or track

Medical Definition

trolley

noun

trol·​ley

variants also trolly

ˈträl-ē 

plural trolleys also trollies

British

: gurney