bike

¹ American  

[bahyk] / baɪk /

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, biking

1. to ride a bike.

   I bike to work.

idioms

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

bike ² American  

[bahyk] / baɪk /

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 British  

/ baɪk /

noun

1. informal short for bicycle motorcycle

2. slang away you go

3. slang to lose one's self-control

---

noun

1. slang a promiscuous woman

   the town bike

bike ² British  

/ baɪk, bəɪk /

noun

1. a wasps' or bees' nest

---

verb

1. to swarm

Etymology

Origin of bike¹

1880–85, 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

Example Sentences

Instead of sofas, it features a red-light bed, oxygen tanks, hot and cold plunges, and an exercise bike.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

He braked hard but was travelling at between 25 and 27mph when he hit the bike, the court heard.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

Renting a bike is an easy way to get around or spend an afternoon exploring.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

The footage, which shows a blue BMW tailgating a cyclist in the bike lane, forcing the cyclist to hop the curb onto the sidewalk, has since gone viral on Fetzer’s Instagram page.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2026

But as we bike home, doubt creeps back in.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

Related Words

• pedal