bicycle

American  

[bahy-si-kuhl, -sik-uhl, -sahy-kuhl] / ˈbaɪ sɪ kəl, -ˌsɪk əl, -ˌsaɪ kəl /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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verb

1. (intr) to ride a bicycle; cycle

Other Word Forms

• bicycler noun
• bicyclist noun

Etymology

Origin of bicycle

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

Example Sentences

The 41-year-old hydraulic technician has spent hours riding her purple bicycle around this city in recent weeks, looking for hints of where Nancy Guthrie may have gone.

From The Wall Street Journal

King Liu, the founder of Taiwanese bicycle maker Giant and a self-described "missionary" for cycling culture, died on Monday at the age of 91, the company said.

From Barron's

Our summer’s bicycle ride across the northern states in 2025 felt like a year.

From The Wall Street Journal

A common, albeit not very lucrative, option: delivering food orders on bicycles or motorcycles.

From Los Angeles Times

In the city, there were few gasoline-powered cars and no buses running, but the streets were full of bicycles, electric motorcycles and three-wheeled electric vehicles used to transport people and goods.

From Salon

Related Words

• bike