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

As fans began having to dodge the electric trolleys which had become one of the primary modes of transport in the borough, the team was nicknamed the Trolley Dodgers, and later, simply, the Dodgers. —Jamie Barton, CNN, 24 Oct. 2024

Hop on the 50-cent Pony Express trolley throughout the summer and fall, and explore local parks and the historic downtown. —Madeline Weinfield, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2024

Verb

The 360-degree spinner wheels are easy to trolley across terminals. —Sian Babish, chicagotribune.com, 22 Sep. 2020

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