bicycle definition

English bicycle definition

Etymology

Borrowed from French bicycle (modern bicyclette), from bi- (“bi-; two”) +‎ cycle (“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.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbaɪsɪkl̩/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: bi‧cy‧cle

Noun

bicycle (plural bicycles)

1. A vehicle that has two wheels, one behind the other, a steering handle, and a saddle seat or seats and is usually propelled by the action of a rider’s feet upon pedals.

   Synonyms: (clipping) bike, pushbike, (historical) velocipede; see also Thesaurus:bicycle

   Hypernym: cycle

   • 1882, “Principle in Small Things”, in Popular Science Monthly, volume 22, page 274:

     In most English villages, as we are informed, bicycles are not allowed on the sidewalks; and the hand-books issued by English manufacturers of bicycles caution their customers that it is a forbidden practice, while in many places bells have to be attached to the bicycles even when ridden in the streets.

2. A traveling block used on a cable in skidding logs.
3. The best possible hand in lowball.
4. (Britain, Australia, New Zealand) A motorbike.
5. (vulgar slang, usually in compounds specifying a context) a slut; a promiscuous woman
   • 2002, Minette Walters, Fox Evil, Macmillan, page 162-3:

     ‘What sort of bullying does this sergeant go in for?’ ‘Character assassination,’ she said in a matter-of-fact tone that belied the very real difficulties it was causing her. ‘There’s a lot of whispering about slags and tarts behind my back and sniggers whenever I appear. Half of the men seem to think I’m a dyke who needs curing, the other half think I’m the platoon bicycle. [...]’

6. (climbing) This term needs a definition. Please help out and add a definition, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

Derived terms

Related terms

Descendants

• → Burmese: ဘိုင်စကယ် (bhuingca.kai)
• → Papiamentu: baiskel
• Sranan Tongo: baisigri
• → Swahili: baiskeli
• → Urdu: بائیسکل‎

Translations

Verb

bicycle (third-person singular simple present bicycles, present participle bicycling, simple past and past participle bicycled)

1. (intransitive) To travel or exercise using a bicycle.

Translations

French bicycle definition

Alternative forms

• bécik

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bi.sikl/

• Audio (CAN)

  (file)

Noun

bicycle m (plural bicycles)

1. bicycle

   Synonym: bicyclette

Derived terms

• bicyclette

Descendants

• → English: bicycle
• → Polish: bicykl

Further reading

• “bicycle”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.