bicycle

[bahy-si-kuhl, -sik-uhl, -sahy-kuhl]

noun

1. a vehicle with two wheels in tandem, usually propelled by pedals connected to the rear wheel by a chain, and having handlebars for steering and a saddlelike seat.

verb (used without object)

bicycled, bicycling 

1. to ride a bicycle.

verb (used with object)

bicycled, bicycling 

1. to ship or transport directly by bicycle or other means.

bicycle

/ ˈbaɪsɪkəl /

noun

1. Often shortened to: cycle.  bike. informal,  a vehicle with a tubular metal frame mounted on two spoked wheels, one behind the other. The rider sits on a saddle, propels the vehicle by means of pedals that drive the rear wheel through a chain, and steers with handlebars on the front wheel

verb

1. (intr) to ride a bicycle; cycle

Other Word Forms

• bicyclist noun
• bicycler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bicycle¹

From French, dating back to 1865–70; bi- ¹, cycle

Word History and Origins

Origin of bicycle¹

C19: from _bi- ¹ + Late Latin cyclus , from Greek kuklos wheel

Example Sentences

Mamdani and Brad Lander appeared together on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and bicycled to joint events in all corners of the city.

Read more on Salon

Pedal power was also celebrated, with a collection spanning veteran bicycles and early motorcycles through to modern electric bikes.

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Together, they told stories, rode bicycles, lay in the grass watching fluffy clouds drift by.

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Finally, passing roadworkers heard him yelling and spotted the twisted frame of his bicycle.

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"Everyone is just, you know, completely disconnected... Every tree is on the road, right, so you can't get too far with the cars, not even a bicycle," he said.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• bike