bicycle
- 01 A1 Beginner
n.a vehicle with two wheels that you ride by pushing pedals with your feet.
n.a vehicle composed of two wheels held in a frame one behind the other, propelled by pedals and steered with handlebars.
Simple“He rode his bicycle to school every morning to avoid the heavy traffic.”
In context“The city council invested in dedicated lanes to encourage residents to use a bicycle for their daily commute rather than relying on cars.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
v.to travel or exercise by riding a bicycle.
v.to travel by means of a bicycle; functions as an intransitive verb of motion.
Simple“We decided to bicycle across the park while the weather was still warm.”
In context“They bicycled through the rural provinces of France, covering nearly fifty miles of varied terrain each day.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a motorcycle or motorbike.
n.a motorized cycle; a common colloquialism in specific Commonwealth dialects.
Simple“He spent the weekend cleaning his bicycle before the big motorbike rally.”
In context“In certain rural Australian communities, the term bicycle is frequently used to refer to a high-powered motorbike used for cross-country transport.”
Synonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
n.an insulting word for a woman who has many sexual partners.
n.a derogatory and highly offensive term for a woman perceived as promiscuous.
Simple“The cruel gossip in the office referred to her as the town bicycle.”
In context“The screenplay was criticized for its use of dated and misogynistic slurs, including the term bicycle to describe the female lead.”
UsageUsually used with 'the' or as a direct insult.
Teacher's tipThis sense is highly offensive and sexist; learners should recognize it to understand the insult but avoid using it themselves.
Synonyms - 05 C2 Proficiency
v.to send a recorded TV show or film from one station to another.
v.to physically transport recorded media between broadcasting entities; historically significant in television distribution.
Simple“The local station had to bicycle the film reels to the next city.”
In context“Before the advent of satellite uplinks, networks would bicycle physical tapes between regional affiliates to ensure the program aired on schedule.”
UsageUsed as a transitive verb in the context of media logistics.
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwís Proto-Italic *dwis Old Latin duis Latin bisder. French bi- Proto-Indo-European *kʷel- Proto-Indo-European *kʷékʷlos Ancient Greek κῠ́κλος (kŭ́klos)der. Late Latin cyclusder. Middle French French cycle French bicyclebor. English bicycle Borrowed from French bicycle (modern bicyclette), from bi- (“two”) + cycle (“cycle”). By surface analysis, bi- + cycle. First attested in English in 1868, and in French in 1847. (promiscuous woman): From double meaning of ride ("to transport oneself upon" vs. "to mount someone to have sex with them"). A communal bicycle would have many riders.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.