vehicle

[ vee-i-kuhlor, sometimes, vee-hi- ]

noun

1. any means in or by which someone travels or something is carried or conveyed; a means of conveyance or transport:

   a motor vehicle; space vehicles.

2. a conveyance moving on wheels, runners, tracks, or the like, as a cart, sled, automobile, or tractor.
3. a means of transmission or passage:

   Air is the vehicle of sound.

4. a carrier, as of infection.
5. a medium of communication, expression, or display:

   The novel is a fitting vehicle for his talents. Language is the vehicle of thought.

6. Theater, Movies. a play, screenplay, or the like, having a role suited to the talents of and often written for a specific performer.
7. a means of accomplishing a purpose:

   College is a vehicle for success.

8. Rhetoric. the thing or idea to which the subject of a metaphor is compared, as “rose” in “she is a rose.” Compare tenor ( def 3 ).
9. Pharmacology. a substance, usually fluid, possessing little or no medicinal action, used as a medium for active remedies.
10. Painting. a liquid, as oil, in which a pigment is mixed before being applied to a surface.

vehicle

/ ˈviːɪkəl; vɪˈhɪkjʊlə /

noun

1. any conveyance in or by which people or objects are transported, esp one fitted with wheels
2. a medium for the expression, communication, or achievement of ideas, information, power, etc
3. pharmacol a therapeutically inactive substance mixed with the active ingredient to give bulk to a medicine
4. Also calledbase a painting medium, such as oil, in which pigments are suspended
5. (in the performing arts) a play, musical composition, etc, that enables a particular performer to display his talents
6. a rocket excluding its payload

Pronunciation Note

Because the primary stress in vehicle is on the first syllable, the [h] in the second syllable tends to disappear: [vee, -i-k, uh, l]. A pronunciation with primary stress on the second syllable and a fully pronounced [h] is usually considered nonstandard: [vee-, hik, -, uh, l]. In the adjective vehicular, where the primary stress is normally on the second syllable, the [h] is always pronounced.

Derived Forms

• vehicular, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vehicle¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin vehiculum, from veh(ere) “to carry, convey, ride” + -i- -i- + -culum -cle ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of vehicle¹

C17: from Latin vehiculum, from vehere to carry

Example Sentences

Apparently supported by a paramilitary self-defence group, the men attacked the vehicle, removed two of the patients, took them outside hospital grounds and executed them.

From BBC

Delhi itself produces a huge chunk of the pollution - emission from vehicles, construction and factories.

From BBC

The British vehicle maker, owned by Tata Motors, will launch three new electric cars in 2026, having taken new cars off sale more than a year ago to focus on reinventing the brand.

From BBC

The 57-year-old was driving a bin lorry down a country road when another truck collided with his vehicle.

From BBC

The revitalized agency issued new standards for lead in drinking water and tightened requirements for vehicle and power plant emissions.

From Science Magazine

Related Words

• automobile
• bicycle
• boat
• bus
• cab
• car
• jeep
• taxi
• truck
• van
• wagon