bike
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bike¹
- /baɪk/
- /bɐɪk/ Canada
- /bɑɪ̯k/ Australia
Rhymes with -aɪk
Where it comes from
One explanation for the form with /k/ is that bicycle was parsed to bi(cy)c(le). An alternative explanation is that it was parsed to bic(ycle) but since speakers are aware of a general /k/~/s/ alternation (as in electric ~ electricity etc.), the softened /s/ was restored to a default /k/ when the “ending” -ycle was dropped. Similar cases are merc /mɜɹk/, spec /spɛk/ for mercenary, specify. It seems unlikely, however, that this process is purely phonological and not at least partially based on the spelling ⟨c⟩.
noun bikes
- Clipping of bicycle It's called a gravel bike, and seems to combine the advantages of both road and mountain bikes – with a similar ability to lap up the miles on tarmac as a road bike, while still being very capable off-road.
- Clipping of motorbike
- Any vehicle sharing some characteristics with a bicycle or motorbike, such as pedal power, a handlebar, or a saddle. He warmed up the engine; the bike hovered off the ground despite his weight and the extra equipment.
- Ellipsis of village bike
verb bikes · biking · biked
- To ride a bike. I biked so much yesterday that I'm very sore today.
- To travel by bike. It was such a nice day I decided to bike to the store, though it's far enough I usually take my car.
- To transport by bicycle. I biked them the letters.
bike²
- /baɪk/
- /bɐɪk/ Canada
- /bɑɪ̯k/ Australia
Rhymes with -aɪk
Where it comes from
From Middle English bike, byke (“a nest of wild bees or wasps; also, honeycomb”), of unknown origin. Perhaps a back-formation of Middle English *bykere (“beekeeper”), from Old English bēocere (“beekeeper”); or from Old English *bȳc, a byform of Old English būc (“belly; vessel; container”). Compare also Scots byke (“beehive, anthill; home, dwelling”), Old Norse bý (“bee”).
noun bikes · byke
- A hive of bees, or a nest of wasps, hornets, or ants. like blue bottle flees in a blink of sunshine, […]A bonny bike there’s o’ them!
- A crowd of people.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: bicycle, motorcycle, cycle, pedal, wheel, bicycling, cyclist, motorbike, biker, cycling, scooter, moto, cart, truck, vehicle, ride
Translations
Every language
noun bicycle
| Español | bici |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 자전거 jajeon'geo |
| 日本語 | 自転車 jitensha, チャリンコ charinko, チャリ chari, ケッタ ketta |
| Português | bici, bicicleta, bicla |
| Français | vélo |
| Deutsch | Fahrrad, Rad, Drahtesel |
| Italiano | bici, bicicletta |
| Ελληνικά | ποδήλατο podílato |
| Română | bicicletă |
| Русский | велосипе́д velosipéd, ве́лик vélik |
| Tiếng Việt | xe đạp |
noun motorcycle
| Español | moto |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | バイク baiku |
| Português | mota, moto |
| Français | moto |
| Deutsch | Motorrad, Moped |
| Italiano | moto |
| Ελληνικά | μοτοσυκλέτα motosykléta, μηχανή michaní, μηχανάκι michanáki |
| Русский | мотоци́кл motocíkl |
| Tiếng Việt | xe máy, xe gắn máy |
noun promiscuous woman
| Português | puta, vaca f, cabra f) |
|---|---|
| Français | pute, traînée |
| Italiano | puttana |
verb to ride a bike
| 日本語 | 自転車に乗る jitensha ni noru |
|---|---|
| Português | andar de bicicleta, pedalar |
| Français | faire du vélo, biker, pédaler |
| Deutsch | Rad fahren, radeln |
| Italiano | pedalare |
| Tiếng Việt | đạp xe |
verb to travel by bike
| Português | ir de bicicleta |
|---|---|
| Français | aller à vélo, pédaler |
Talk about this word "bike." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/bike. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. bike. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/bike "bike." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/bike.Cite this
@misc{bike_2026,
title = {bike},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/bike},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
