amtrac
1
8.7
- noun
- /ˈæmtræk/
- Archaic
:
amtrac
- During the training exercise, the soldiers practiced loading their equipment onto the amtracs before heading into the water.
- amphibious amtracs
- amtracs (amphibious tractors)
Examples
-
The amtrac was upside down and water was coming in from everywhere.
-
Skip along and into the amtracs.
-
The Marines deployed several amtracs to assist troops during the amphibious landing.
-
An amtrac is essential for operations that require both land and water mobility.
Synonyms
8
3.7
A machine like a truck or tank that the army uses
3
6.5
A heavy military vehicle with armor and tracks that carries soldiers
3
4.4
A vehicle like a truck or plane that carries soldiers
How Amphibious
- Specialized
11
6.4
- Archaic
1
8.7
- Specialized
1
6.1
- Specialized
7
4.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
amtrac = amphibious + tractor (transparent) = amphibious + tractor
A clipped blend of 'amphibious' + 'tractor' directly denotes a vehicle capable of operating on land and water, so the meaning is derivable from its components.
Etymology
Amtrac comes from a shortening of amphibious and tractor, where amphibious means 'on land and water' and tractor is a 'machine that pulls'. So an amtrac is a vehicle that can move from ship to shore, which fits its modern military use.