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, biking 

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. 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

/ baɪk, bəɪk /

noun

1. a wasps' or bees' nest

verb

1. to swarm

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of bike¹

C14: of uncertain origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

Example Sentences

Local transit officials suspect the proposed bike lanes made it seem too environmentally-friendly.

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Its latest bike sensibly combines big ideas that the company previously kept separate.

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“Some like to shop, others will go biking, but we’ll rendezvous for one event a day.”

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“I often get to climb, rappel, hike, bike or paddle some sections of the race—usually the most fun parts!”

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Mr Haybourne says his team regularly carries out operations at the Port of Dover, to search for stolen cars, caravans, quad bikes, farm vehicles, diggers and other agricultural machinery.

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Related Words

• pedal