motorcycle
MOH-tuh-seye-kuhl
Motorcycle (noun) means a two-wheeled motor vehicle steered with handlebars, ridden while straddling the seat. Example: “The motorcycle roared past us and disappeared round the bend.”
noun
1
A two-wheeled motor vehicle steered with handlebars, ridden while straddling the seat.
"The motorcycle roared past us and disappeared round the bend."
"He rides his motorcycle to work every day, rain or shine."
"She's saving up to buy her first motorcycle."
verb
1
To travel by motorcycle.
"My uncle motorcycles to the coast every weekend when the weather is dry."
"We motorcycled for hours along the quiet country roads."
"They motorcycled through the Alps last September."
How to use motorcycle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA two-wheeled vehicle powered by an engine.
Common pairings
ride a motorcycle
motorcycle helmet
motorcycle license
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Word forms
- Plural
- motorcycles
- Third person singular
- motorcycles
- Past tense
- motorcycled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ roared past us and disappeared round the bend.
Etymology
From motor + cycle, tracing back to the Motorcyclette built in France in 1897.
Class of 1897
motorcycle joined the language around 1897.
See the full Class of 1897 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for motorcycle
See all rhymes for motorcycle →Frequently asked questions
What does “motorcycle” mean?
The word “motorcycle” means a two-wheeled motor vehicle steered with handlebars, ridden while straddling the seat. In plain terms, a two-wheeled vehicle powered by an engine.
How do you pronounce “motorcycle”?
“Motorcycle” is pronounced MOH-tuh-seye-kuhl (/ˈmoʊtɚˌsaɪkəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “motorcycle” in a sentence?
Here is “motorcycle” used in a sentence: “He rides his motorcycle to work every day, rain or shine.”
What part of speech is “motorcycle”?
Depending on how it is used, “motorcycle” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “motorcycle” come from?
The word “motorcycle” dates back to around 1897. From motor + cycle, tracing back to the Motorcyclette built in France in 1897.
Is “motorcycle” a common word?
“Motorcycle” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “motorcycle” have?
“Motorcycle” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a two-wheeled motor vehicle steered with handlebars, ridden while straddling the seat.
What is the difference between a motorcycle and a motorbike?
Motorcycle and motorbike refer to the same vehicle: a two-wheeled motor vehicle steered with handlebars and ridden astride. Motorcycle is the standard term in formal, legal, and technical contexts, while motorbike is the everyday informal word, especially in British English.
What is the difference between a motorcycle and a scooter?
A motorcycle is ridden while straddling the seat, with the engine and fuel tank between the rider's knees. A scooter has a step-through frame and a flat floorboard for the feet, and it usually has a smaller engine. Both are two-wheeled motor vehicles steered with handlebars.
Do you ride or drive a motorcycle?
The standard collocation is to ride a motorcycle, and a person who does so is called a rider, not a driver. 'Drive' is reserved for enclosed vehicles such as cars and trucks, so 'she rides a motorcycle to work' is the natural phrasing.
Can motorcycle be used as a verb?
Yes. As a verb, motorcycle means to travel by motorcycle, as in 'they motorcycled across the country.' It is grammatically standard but fairly uncommon; most speakers prefer 'ride a motorcycle' instead.
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