# bike

/ˈbaɪk/ (US) · /bˈaɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bike
Updated: 2026-05-01

## Senses

### 1. bicycle

noun · CEFR A1 · Informal

a vehicle with two wheels that you move by pushing pedals with your feet.

For teachers: a common clipping for bicycle; refers to a two-wheeled vehicle propelled by pedals.

- He rode his bike to school every morning to avoid the bus.
- The city installed new racks to encourage commuters to leave their bikes in a secure location near the train station.

### 2. motorcycle

noun · CEFR A2 · Informal

a vehicle with two wheels and an engine.

For teachers: a clipping for motorbike or motorcycle; refers to a motorized two-wheeled vehicle.

- He wore a heavy leather jacket while riding his bike on the highway.
- The roar of the bike echoed through the canyon as the rider accelerated into the sharp turn.

### 3. promiscuous person

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Vulgar · British English

an insulting word for someone who has many sexual partners.

For teachers: a derogatory ellipsis of 'village bike', referring to a person perceived as being sexually available to many people.

- He was being very rude and called her the village bike.
- The use of the term 'bike' in that context was intended as a misogynistic slur against her reputation.

Teaching tip: This sense is highly offensive and mostly found in British slang; learners should avoid using it.

### 4. to ride

verb · CEFR A2 · Informal

to travel somewhere using a bicycle.

For teachers: to travel or transport oneself via bicycle. Intransitive in general use.

- We decided to bike to the beach instead of taking the car.
- They planned to bike across the valley, documenting the changing landscape for their travel blog.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.