bike

¹

[ bahyk ]

noun

1. Informal.
   1. a bicycle.
   2. a motorbike.
   3. a motorcycle.
2. Harness Racing. a sulky with tires like those of a bicycle.

verb (used without object)

, biked, bik·ing.

1. to ride a bike:

   I bike to work.

bike

²

[ bahyk ]

noun

, Scot. and North England.

1. a colony, nest, or swarm of wild bees, wasps, or hornets.
2. a teeming crowd; swarm of people.

bike

¹

/ baɪk; bəɪk /

noun

1. a wasps' or bees' nest

verb

1. to swarm

bike

²

/ baɪk /

noun

1. informal.
   short for bicycle motorcycle
2. on your bike slang.
   away you go
3. get off one's bike slang.
   to lose one's self-control

noun

1. slang.
   a promiscuous woman

   the town bike

Word History and Origins

Origin of bike¹

1880–85, Americanism; alteration of bicycle

Origin of bike²

1250–1300; Middle English, equivalent to *bi bee (< Old Norse bȳ bee ¹ ) + *yeke, Old English gēoc help, safety

Word History and Origins

Origin of bike¹

C14: of uncertain origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. get off one's bike, Australian Informal. to lose control of oneself or become angry.

Example Sentences

Mr McGuinness is currently on day four of his challenge, cycling on his dream childhood bike - the Raleigh Chopper - from Ecclefechan to Strathaven.

From BBC

She was a strong supporter of Healthy Streets L.A, which was passed by voters in March and requires the city to build bus and bike lanes.

From Los Angeles Times

Asked how she would spend the £50,000 prize money, she said: "I need to buy myself a new bike, and it's going to be a good bike."

From BBC

Fiona Ryalls, 33, from Bristol tracked down her stolen bike for sale on social media while Josh Steven, 29, used a tracking device and was threatened when he tried to reclaim his.

From BBC

Mr Steven said that despite this "heated" moment, he had been given his bike back by another member of the household.

From BBC

Related Words

• pedal