all-terrain vehicle

American  

[awl-tuh-reyn] / ˈɔl təˈreɪn /

noun

1. a vehicle with treads, wheels, or both, designed to traverse varied, uneven terrain as well as roads. ATV

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Usage

What is an all-terrain vehicle? An all-terrain vehicle is a vehicle with specialized treads and/or wheels that allows it to travel on off-road terrain. It is commonly abbreviated as ATV. It’s more common to call it an ATV than an all-terrain vehicle. All-terrain vehicles are designed to travel over rocks, snow, and other difficult terrain. In the U. S., the term typically refers to a vehicle that has four (or at least three) wheels, a straddle seat, and handlebars for steering. They are typically designed for one person, though some can accommodate two riders. The term quad is commonly used to refer to an ATV that has four wheels and is typically used for recreation. Example: You’d need an all-terrain vehicle to cross those rocky paths.

Etymology

Origin of all-terrain vehicle

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

It was a rugged all-terrain vehicle intended to withstand gunfire and mine explosions.

From Slate • Mar. 15, 2025

The road had been washed away, forcing crews to approach on an all-terrain vehicle.

From Salon • Nov. 25, 2024

When her husband, Nabil, grazed his goats in pastures he had used for decades, Sharvit would quickly arrive in an all-terrain vehicle and he and young settlers would chase the animals away, he says.

From BBC • Sep. 2, 2024

Drawing them out of the woods often required an audible stimulus comparable to the males’ drumming — the puttering of an all-terrain vehicle engine, for example.

From New York Times • Dec. 15, 2023

When the growl of the all-terrain vehicle faded away toward the other side of the junkyard, the boy signaled that it was safe to leave the truck.

From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen