Bicycle | Define Bicycle at Dictionary.com

[bahy-si-kuh l, -sik-uh l, -sahy-kuh l]

See more synonyms for bicycle on Thesaurus.comnoun

1. a vehicle with two wheels in tandem, usually propelled by pedals connected to the rear wheel by a chain, and having handlebars for steering and a saddlelike seat.

verb (used without object), bi·cy·cled, bi·cy·cling.

1. to ride a bicycle.

verb (used with object), bi·cy·cled, bi·cy·cling.

1. to ship or transport directly by bicycle or other means.

Origin of bicycle

From

French,

dating back to

1865–70;

see origin at

bi-1

,

cycleRelated formsbi·cy·clist, bi·cy·cler, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for bicycle

Historical Examples

• Nimrod said his bicycle betrayed itself, too, only not so badly.

• And he sold his camel yesterday and bought a bicycle instead.

• Dismount and walk past any horse that becomes frightened at your bicycle.

• An air-pressure is then produced in the tank with a bicycle pump.

• He took her bicycle from her, and, turning, walked with her back into the park.

British Dictionary definitions for bicycle

bicycle

noun

1. a vehicle with a tubular metal frame mounted on two spoked wheels, one behind the other. The rider sits on a saddle, propels the vehicle by means of pedals that drive the rear wheel through a chain, and steers with handlebars on the front wheelOften shortened to: cycle, informal bike

verb

1. (intr) to ride a bicycle; cycle

Derived Formsbicyclist or bicycler, noun

Word Origin

C19: from bi- 1 + Late Latin cyclus, from Greek kuklos wheel

Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for bicycle

n.

1868, coined from bi- “two” + Greek kyklos “circle, wheel” (see cycle (n.)), on the pattern of tricycle; both the word and the vehicle superseding earlier velocipede. The English word probably is not from French, though often said to be (many French sources say the French word is from English). The assumption apparently is because Pierre Lallement, employee of a French carriage works, improved Macmillan’s 1839 pedal velocipede in 1865 and took the invention to America. See also pennyfarthing. As a verb, from 1869.

That ne plus ultra of snobbishness — bicyclism. [1876]

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

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