Library / English Dictionary

BICYCLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A wheeled vehicle that has two wheels and is moved by foot pedals

Synonyms:

bicycle; bike; cycle; wheel

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("bicycle" is a kind of...):

wheeled vehicle (a vehicle that moves on wheels and usually has a container for transporting things or people)

Meronyms (parts of "bicycle"):

kickstand (a swiveling metal rod attached to a bicycle or motorcycle or other two-wheeled vehicle; the rod lies horizontally when not in use but can be kicked into a vertical position as a support to hold the vehicle upright when it is not being ridden)

handlebar (the shaped bar used to steer a bicycle)

mudguard; splash-guard; splash guard (a curved piece above the wheel of a bicycle or motorcycle to protect the rider from water or mud thrown up by the wheels)

coaster brake (a brake on a bicycle that engages with reverse pressure on the pedals)

foot lever; foot pedal; pedal; treadle (a lever that is operated with the foot)

chain (a series of (usually metal) rings or links fitted into one another to make a flexible ligament)

bicycle wheel (the wheel of a bicycle)

sprocket; sprocket wheel (thin wheel with teeth that engage with a chain)

bicycle seat; saddle (a seat for the rider of a bicycle)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "bicycle"):

bicycle-built-for-two; tandem; tandem bicycle (a bicycle with two sets of pedals and two seats)

all-terrain bike; mountain bike; off-roader (a bicycle with a sturdy frame and fat tires; originally designed for riding in mountainous country)

ordinary; ordinary bicycle (an early bicycle with a very large front wheel and small back wheel)

push-bike (a bicycle that must be pedaled)

safety bicycle; safety bike (bicycle that has two wheels of equal size; pedals are connected to the rear wheel by a multiplying gear)

velocipede (any of several early bicycles with pedals on the front wheel)

Derivation:

bicycle (ride a bicycle)

bicyclist (a person who rides a bicycle)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Ride a bicycle

Synonyms:

bicycle; bike; cycle; pedal; wheel

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "bicycle" is one way to...):

ride (be carried or travel on or in a vehicle)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "bicycle"):

unicycle (ride a unicycle)

backpedal (pedal backwards on a bicycle)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence examples:

They bicycle the countryside

They bicycle in the countryside

Derivation:

bicycle (a wheeled vehicle that has two wheels and is moved by foot pedals)

bicycler; bicyclist (a person who rides a bicycle)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Over the bed, hoisted by a tackle to the ceiling, was his bicycle.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

It is, of course, possible that a cunning man might change the tires of his bicycle in order to leave unfamiliar tracks.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

His bicycle and black suit were again in pawn, and the type-writer people were once more worrying about the rent.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Here, once again, was the mark of the bicycle, though nearly obliterated by the hoofs of cows.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Him Von Schmidt desired to please and propitiate because from him could be obtained the Oakland agency for the bicycle.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

“A bicycle, certainly, but not the bicycle,” said he.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Also, he paid the other tradesmen in full, redeemed his suit and his bicycle, paid one month's rent on the type-writer, and paid Maria the overdue month for his room and a month in advance.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Possibly, if we could prove a bicycle to have been in his possession.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Not that they touched hands often, save at meeting and parting; but that in handling the bicycles, in strapping on the books of verse they carried into the hills, and in conning the pages of books side by side, there were opportunities for hand to stray against hand.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

He seized his bicycle, pursued the lad, and in pursuing him met his death.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)