Lorry vs. Track: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 7, 2023
A lorry is a large, heavy motor vehicle for transporting goods or troops. Track can refer to a path or trail or to follow the movements of something.
Key Differences
The term "Lorry" primarily refers to a large motor vehicle designed to transport goods or cargo, often synonymous with a truck, especially in British English. It is a tangible object, specifically a mode of transportation. "Track," on the other hand, can mean a path, trail, or a set of lines along which trains run, or it can mean to trace the progress or movement of an object or individual. It has diverse meanings, encompassing both abstract and concrete concepts.
While the lorry is a specific type of vehicle with a straightforward definition, "Track" can refer to the literal tracks that trains run on or a figurative path that one can follow. It can also imply the act of following the progress or movements of an object or individual, adding a verb aspect to its range of meanings, which the term "lorry" lacks.
The utilization of "Lorry" is predominantly in the context of transportation of goods, highlighting its role as a utility vehicle. In contrast, the term "track" might be used in various contexts including sports, music, or hunting, signifying its versatile nature. "Track" has broader application and can be seen in different domains, making it multifaceted.
In essence, a "Lorry" is predominantly a British term used to describe a vehicle for transporting goods, and it has a specific, narrow scope of use. "Track" is versatile, having different meanings in various contexts, including being a path, a set of railway lines, or a verb denoting the act of following or tracing something.
Comparison Chart
Meaning
A large vehicle for transporting goods.
A path, set of lines, or the act of following.
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Use
Transportation of goods.
Various, including sports, music, and transport.
Type
Tangible Object.
Can be tangible or abstract.
Context
Mostly British English, specific to transport domain.
Multiple contexts and domains.
Scope
Specific, relates to one kind of vehicle.
Broad, with diverse meanings and applications.
Lorry and Track Definitions
Lorry
A freight transport vehicle.
The lorry's engine roared to life as it prepared to leave.
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Track
A set of lines along which trains run.
The train rumbled down the track, heading west.
Lorry
A vehicle for transporting troops or goods, usually larger than a van.
The lorry maneuvered carefully through the narrow streets.
Track
A mark or succession of marks left by something that has passed.
Lorry
A vehicle with a specific cargo capacity.
The lorry transported construction materials to the site.
Track
A path, route, or course indicated by such marks
An old wagon track through the mountains.
Lorry
A large motor vehicle for transporting goods.
The lorry was filled to capacity with boxes of fruit.
Track
A path along which something moves; a course
Following the track of an airplane on radar.
Lorry
A motor truck.
Track
A course of action; a method of proceeding
On the right track for solving the puzzle.
Lorry
(British) A large and heavy motor vehicle designed to carry goods or soldiers; a truck
Track
An intended or proper course
Putting a stalled project back on track.
Lorry
A truck with an open carriage
Track
A succession of ideas; a train of thought.
Lorry
(dated) A barrow or truck for shifting baggage, as at railway stations.
Track
Awareness of something occurring or passing
Keeping track of the score.
Lost all track of time.
Lorry
(dated) A small cart or wagon used on the tramways in mines to carry coal or rubbish.
Track
A course laid out for running or racing.
Lorry
(obsolete) A large, low, horse-drawn, four-wheeled cart without sides; also, a similar wagon modified for use on railways.
Track
Athletic competition on such a course; track events.
Lorry
To transport by, or as if by, lorry.
Track
Track and field.
Lorry
A large low horse-drawn wagon without sides
Track
A rail or set of parallel rails upon which railroad cars or other vehicles run.
Lorry
A large truck designed to carry heavy loads; usually without sides
Track
Tracks The boundary, formerly often delineated by train tracks, that separates two neighborhoods of different social class
Grew up on the wrong side of the tracks.
Lorry
In British English, a synonym for a truck.
A red lorry sped past us on the motorway.
Track
Either of the continuous metal belts with which vehicles such as bulldozers and tanks move over the ground.
Track
A metal groove or ridge that holds, guides, and reduces friction for a moving device or apparatus.
Track
Any of several courses of study to which students are assigned according to ability, achievement, or needs
Academic, vocational, and general tracks.
Track
A distinct path, as along a length of film or magnetic tape, on which sound, images, or other information is recorded.
Track
A distinct selection from an audio or video recording, usually containing an individual work or part of a larger work
The title track of an album.
Track
One of two or more separate recordings that are combined so as to be replayed simultaneously, as in stereophonic sound reproduction
Mixed the vocal track and instrumental track.
Track
One of the concentric magnetic rings that form the separate data storage areas on a floppy disk or a hard disk.
Track
A set of digital data encoded consecutively on an optical disc.
Track
Tracks(Slang) Needle marks on the skin from multiple intravenous injections, considered an indication of habitual drug use.
Track
To follow the tracks of; trail
Tracking game through the forest.
Track
To leave marks made of (dirt or mud, for example) on a surface
The dog tracked mud on the rug.
Track
To leave marks on (a floor, for example) when moving or traversing
You're tracking up my nice clean floor!.
Track
To observe or monitor the course of (an aircraft, for example), as by radar.
Track
To observe the progress of; follow
Tracking the company's performance daily.
Track
To determine or discover the location or origin of
Tracked the money to an offshore account.
Track
To equip with a track.
Track
To assign (a student) to a curricular track.
Track
To follow a course; travel
The storm is tracking up the coast.
Track
To keep a constant distance apart. Used of a pair of wheels.
Track
To be in alignment
The gears are not tracking properly.
Track
To follow the undulations in the groove of a phonograph record. Used of a needle.
Track
To move across magnetic heads. Used of magnetic tape.
Track
To move in relation to a subject being filmed. Used of a camera or camera crew.
Track
A mark left by something that has passed along.
Follow the track of the ship.
Can you see any tracks in the snow?
Track
A mark or impression left by the foot, either of man or animal.
The fox tracks were still visible in the snow.
Track
The entire lower surface of the foot; said of birds, etc.
Track
A road or other similar beaten path.
Follow the track for a hundred metres.
Track
Physical course; way.
Astronomers predicted the track of the comet.
Track
A path or course laid out for a race, for exercise, etc.
The athletes ran round the track.
Track
The direction and progress of someone or something; path.
Track
(railways) The way or rails along which a train moves. Category:en:Rail transportation
They briefly closed the railway to remove debris found on the track.
Track
A tract or area, such as of land.
Track
(slang) The street, as a prostitute's place of work.
Track
Awareness of something, especially when arising from close monitoring.
Track
(automotive) The distance between two opposite wheels on a same axletree.
Track
(automotive) caterpillar track
Track
(cricket) The pitch.
Track
Sound stored on a record.
Track
The physical track on a record.
Track
(music) A song or other relatively short piece of music, on a record, separated from others by a short silence.
My favourite track on the album is "Sunshine".
Track
A circular (never-ending) data storage unit on a side of magnetic or optical disk, divided into sectors.
Track
The racing events of track and field; track and field in general.
I'm going to try out for track next week.
Track
A themed set of talks within a conference.
Track
Clipping of trackshoe
Track
To continue over time.
Track
(transitive) To observe the (measured) state of a person or object over time.
We will track the raven population over the next six months.
Track
(transitive) To monitor the movement of a person or object.
Agent Miles has been tracking the terrorist since Madrid.
Track
(transitive) To match the movement or change of a person or object.
My height tracks my father's at my age, so I might end up as tall as him.
Track
To travel so that a moving object remains in shot.
The camera tracked the ball even as the field of play moved back and forth, keeping the action in shot the entire time.
Track
To move.
The hurricane tracked further west than expected.
Track
(transitive) To traverse; to move across.
Track
(transitive) To tow.
Track
(intransitive) To exhibit good cognitive function.
Is the patient tracking? Does he know where he is?
Track
(transitive) To follow the tracks of.
My uncle spent all day tracking the deer, whose hoofprints were clear in the mud.
Track
(transitive) To discover the location of a person or object by following traces.
I tracked Joe to his friend's bedroom, where he had spent the night.
Track
(transitive) To make tracks on or to leave in the form of tracks.
In winter, my cat tracks mud all over the house.
Track
To create a musical recording (a track).
Lil Kyle is gonna track with that DJ next week.
Track
To create music using tracker software.
Track
To make sense; to be consistent with known information
Track
A mark left by something that has passed along; as, the track, or wake, of a ship; the track of a meteor; the track of a sled or a wheel.
The bright track of his fiery car.
Track
A mark or impression left by the foot, either of man or beast; trace; vestige; footprint.
Far from track of men.
Track
The entire lower surface of the foot; - said of birds, etc.
Track
A road; a beaten path.
Behold Torquatus the same track pursue.
Track
Course; way; as, the track of a comet.
Track
A path or course laid out for a race, for exercise, etc.
Track
The permanent way; the rails.
Track
A tract or area, as of land.
Track
To follow the tracks or traces of; to pursue by following the marks of the feet; to trace; to trail; as, to track a deer in the snow.
It was often found impossible to track the robbers to their retreats among the hills and morasses.
Track
To draw along continuously, as a vessel, by a line, men or animals on shore being the motive power; to tow.
Track
A line or route along which something travels or moves;
The hurricane demolished houses in its path
The track of an animal
The course of the river
Track
Evidence pointing to a possible solution;
The police are following a promising lead
The trail led straight to the perpetrator
Track
A pair of parallel rails providing a runway for wheels
Track
A course over which races are run
Track
A distinct selection of music from a recording or a compact disc;
He played the first cut on the cd
The title track of the album
Track
An endless metal belt on which tracked vehicles move over the ground
Track
(computer science) one of the circular magnetic paths on a magnetic disk that serve as a guide for writing and reading data
Track
A groove on a phonograph recording
Track
A bar or bars of rolled steel making a track along which vehicles can roll
Track
Any road or path affording passage especially a rough one
Track
The act of participating in an athletic competition involving running on a track
Track
Carry on the feet and deposit;
Track mud into the house
Track
Observe or plot the moving path of something;
Track a missile
Track
Go after with the intent to catch;
The policeman chased the mugger down the alley
The dog chased the rabbit
Track
Travel across or pass over;
The caravan covered almost 100 miles each day
Track
Make tracks upon
Track
A path or trail that is often unpaved.
We followed the track through the forest until we reached a clearing.
Track
The act of following or tracing the progress of something.
The scientist could track the migration of the birds using satellite technology.
Track
A recording of one song or piece of music.
That track is my favorite on the entire album.
Track
A racing circuit.
The runners took their positions on the track.
FAQs
Is “Lorry” used in American English?
“Lorry” is predominantly a British term; “truck” is more common in American English.
Is “Lorry” specific to the transportation of goods?
Yes, a lorry is a specific type of vehicle designed for transporting goods.
Can “Lorry” be used interchangeably with “Truck”?
Yes, especially in British English, “lorry” is synonymous with “truck.”
Is “Track” a versatile word?
Yes, “track” has several meanings and can be used in various contexts, making it versatile.
Does “Track” have a meaning in rail transportation?
Yes, “track” refers to the set of rails on which trains run.
Can “Track” be used to describe following someone’s progress?
Absolutely, to “track” can mean to follow or monitor someone’s or something.
Does “Track” have meanings in music?
Yes, a “track” can refer to a recorded song or piece of music.
Are lorries used for transporting troops as well?
Yes, lorries can be used to transport troops or goods.
Can “Lorry” transport construction materials?
Yes, lorries are often used to transport construction materials.
Can “Track” also be a verb?
Yes, “track” can mean the act of following or tracing something.
Can “Track” mean a path in the wilderness?
Yes, “track” can refer to an unpaved path or trail.
Are lorries generally larger than vans?
Yes, lorries are typically larger and have a higher cargo capacity than vans.
Can “Track” refer to a racing circuit?
Yes, “track” can refer to a circuit where races are held.
Is “Lorry” a term used globally?
While understood globally, “lorry” is mainly used in British English.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
