bike

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See also: Bíke

English

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A bike.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /baɪk/
  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 360: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "US" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): [bɐɪk]
    • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -aɪk

Etymology 1

From bicycle, by shortening, and possibly alteration.

One explanation for the pronunciation is that bicycle is parsed to bi(cy)c(le). An alternative explanation is that bicycle is shortened to bic(ycle), and the terminal [s] is converted to a [k] because there is an underlying underspecified [k]/[s] sound, which is softened to [s] in bicycle but retained as [k] in bike; compare the letter ‘c’ (used for [k]/[s]).[1]

Noun

bike (plural bikes)

  1. Clipping of bicycle.
  2. Clipping of motorbike.
  3. (slang, derogatory) Ellipsis of village bike.
    Synonyms: slapper, slag
Derived terms
Translations
See also
References
  1. ^ An Etymological Brainteaser: The Shortening of Bicycle to Bike, Robert B. Hausmann, American Speech, Vol. 51, No. 3/4 (Autumn - Winter, 1976), pp. 272–274

Verb

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  1. To ride a bike.
    I biked so much yesterday that I'm very sore today.
  2. 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.
Translations

Template:ttbc-top

Etymology 2

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 Old Norse bý (“bee”).

Noun

bike (plural bikes)

  1. (Scotland, Northern England) A hive of bees, or a nest of wasps, hornets, or ants.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Sir Walter Scott to this entry?)
    • 1955, Robin Jenkins, The Cone-Gatherers, Canongate 2012, p. 107:
      he stood for a minute talking to them about their job of gathering cones, and telling them a story about a tree he'd once climbed which had a wasp's byke in it unbeknown to him.
  2. (chiefly Scotland, by extension, collective) A crowd of people.

Anagrams

Basque

Etymology

From Latin pix.

Noun

bike ?

  1. pitch

Italian

Etymology

Borrowed from English bike.

Noun

bike f (uncountable)

  1. motorbike, motorcycle

Kurdish

Verb

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Norman

Norman Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia nrf

Etymology

Borrowed from English bike.

Noun

bike f (plural bikes)

  1. (Jersey) bicycle

Derived terms

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