- third rail
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a) The electrified rail that runs besides, or between train tracks to power electric trains.
Social security is the third rail of American politics: touch it and your political career dies.
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third rail
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Third rail — (Electric Railways) (a) The third rail used in the third rail system. (b) An electric railway using such a rail. [Colloq.] [Webster 1913 Suppl.] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
third rail — The third rail of something is dangerous to alter or change. Originally, the third rail is the one carrying the electricity for a train … The small dictionary of idiomes
third´-rail´ — third rail, a rail paralleling the ordinary rails of a railroad. It carries a powerful electric current and is used on some railroads instead of an overhead wire. The power is picked up by a device (shoe) that extends out from the locomotive or… … Useful english dictionary
third rail — third′ rail′ n. rai a rail in an electrified railroad that provides current to a car or locomotive • Etymology: 1865–70, amer … From formal English to slang
third rail — ☆ third rail n. an extra rail used in some electric railways, instead of an overhead wire, for supplying power … English World dictionary
Third rail — For other uses, see Third rail (disambiguation). Third rail at the West Falls Church Metro station near Washington, D.C., electrified at 750 volts. The third rail is at the top of the image, with a white canopy above it. The two lower rails… … Wikipedia
third rail — noun a rail through which electric current is supplied to an electric locomotive • Hypernyms: ↑track, ↑rail, ↑rails, ↑runway * * * noun : a metal rail through which current is led to the motors of an electric locomotive compare running rail * * * … Useful english dictionary
third rail — The third rail of something is dangerous to alter or change. Originally, the third rail is the one carrying the electricity for a train. (Dorking School Dictionary) … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
Third rail (disambiguation) — Third rail may refer to:*Third rail, an extra rail used for supplying electricity to trains *The extra rail on a dual gauge railway * Third Rail (song), a song by Squeeze *Third rail (metaphor), a political metaphor *The Third Rail, an online… … Wikipedia
Third-rail system — (Electric Railways) A system in which a third rail is used for carrying the current for operating the motors, the rail being insulated from the ground and the current being taken off by means of contact brushes or other devices. [Webster 1913… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
