bike

¹

[ bahyk ]

noun

1. Informal.
   1. a bicycle.
   2. a motorbike.
   3. a motorcycle.
2. Harness Racing. a sulky with tires like those of a bicycle.

verb (used without object)

, biked, bik·ing.

1. to ride a bike:

   I bike to work.

bike

²

[ bahyk ]

noun

, Scot. and North England.

1. a colony, nest, or swarm of wild bees, wasps, or hornets.
2. a teeming crowd; swarm of people.

bike

¹

/ baɪk /

noun

1. See motorcycle, bicycle
   informal.
   short for bicycle motorcycle
2. on your bike slang.
   on your bike away you go
3. get off one's bike slang.
   get off one's bike to lose one's self-control

noun

1. slang.
   a promiscuous woman

   the town bike

bike

²

/ bəɪk; baɪk /

noun

1. a wasps' or bees' nest

verb

1. to swarm

Word History and Origins

Origin of bike¹

1880–85, Americanism; alteration of bicycle

Origin of bike²

1250–1300; Middle English, equivalent to *bi bee (< Old Norse bȳ bee ¹ ) + *yeke, Old English gēoc help, safety

Word History and Origins

Origin of bike¹

C14: of uncertain origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. get off one's bike, Australian Informal. to lose control of oneself or become angry.

Example Sentences

There’s also the risk that your dog pulls the bike off balance.

From Popular-Science

When I heard a friend had several bikes ripped off in the Bay Area, he blamed himself.

From Popular-Science

While conventional bike sales declined slightly in 2018 and 2019, e-bikes soared more than 50%, according to data from market research firm NPD.

From Quartz

They worked out on a treadmill or bike, starting at 30 minutes per day.

From Science News For Students

The personal computer, the mountain bike, the artificial pancreas — none of these came from some big R&D lab, but from users tinkering in their homes.

From Freakonomics

I know that one day in the near (ish) future, we will return to our usual hikes and bike rides.

From The Daily Beast

My bike ride that mid-October day starts like so many others.

From The Daily Beast

I was really nervous when we started shooting, but once we started, it was just like riding a bike.

From The Daily Beast

Going hands-free is just one of the perks of a place where the only form of transportation is by carriage, bike, or tractor.

From The Daily Beast

Jealous of her young male friend who was permitted to ride his bike around shirtless, she once ripped off her top, too.

From The Daily Beast

"It was very good of you to help the kiddie with her bike," said Johnny, as he splashed the petrol into the tank.

From Project Gutenberg

To 1902 belong the first illustrations of the motor-bicycle and of "trailers" attached to the "push-bike."

From Project Gutenberg

If you buy a Kryptonite bike lock and it can be defeated with a Bic pen, you're not getting very good security for your money.

From Project Gutenberg

And Jimmy, the mean cur, not to have got her that shop, when she had such a splendid idea: Lady Godiva on a bike!

From Project Gutenberg

But he said all that the much-abused "bike" needed was a brake.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• pedal