caterpillar track
- noun
- /ˈkætərˌpɪlər træk/
- Specialized
:
oruga
- The military vehicle crawled over the rocky terrain using its strong caterpillar track.
Examples
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There are even caterpillar tracks beneath the rear stand.
Blog text (14) -
Ferno representatives demonstrated the chair with the innovative caterpillar tracks, like the ones on a tank.
Blog text (17) -
The construction equipment was equipped with a caterpillar track that allowed it to navigate the uneven ground effortlessly.
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Farmers often rely on tractors with caterpillar tracks to work in muddy fields.
Synonyms
A continuous metal belt that helps vehicles like tanks and bulldozers move over rough ground
How Wide
- Specialized
- Specialized
1
6.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
Partly transparent: the compound links 'caterpillar' and 'track' so a learner can guess it refers to a kind of track associated with caterpillar-like movement, but the precise technical meaning (a continuous metal or rubber belt around vehicle wheels) is specialized and not fully predictable from the basic senses of 'caterpillar' (often the insect) and 'track' (a path/mark). Many languages use a comparable metaphor (e.g. French 'chenille' for vehicle tracks), which helps, but a B1 learner would likely need prior exposure to settle the exact referent.
Etymology
Caterpillar track comes from the insect caterpillar and the word track because the long, moving belt looks like a caterpillar crawling along the ground. That's why the name is used for the long metal or rubber belt around a vehicle's wheels that helps it 'move over rough ground'.