vehicle
VEE-ih-kuhl
Vehicle (noun) means a machine used to carry or transport people, goods, or objects, such as a car, truck, or bus. Example: “The company upgraded its entire fleet of delivery vehicles.”
noun
1
A machine used to carry or transport people, goods, or objects, such as a car, truck, or bus.
"The company upgraded its entire fleet of delivery vehicles."
"Police pulled the vehicle over for speeding."
"You must not leave a vehicle parked across the entrance."
2
A means by which something is expressed, achieved, or carried out.
"The film became a vehicle for the actor's comeback."
"Social media is a powerful vehicle for sharing ideas with strangers."
"She saw the charity concert as a vehicle for raising awareness."
3
In medicine or chemistry, the substance that carries or delivers an active ingredient.
"The cream uses a gel vehicle to help the medication absorb into the skin."
"Oil is often used as a vehicle for the pigment in paint."
"The syrup acts as a vehicle that makes the medicine taste sweeter."
How to use vehicle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething that carries or transports — literally (a car, truck) or figuratively (a means to an end).
Common pairings
motor vehicle
a vehicle for change
stolen vehicle
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Word forms
- Plural
- vehicles
- Third person singular
- vehicles
- Past tense
- vehicled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The company upgraded its entire fleet of delivery _____.
Etymology
Borrowed from French véhicule, from Latin vehiculum ("carriage"), from vehere ("to carry") — the same root that gives us "vector."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for vehicle
See all rhymes for vehicle →Frequently asked questions
What does “vehicle” mean?
The word “vehicle” means a machine used to carry or transport people, goods, or objects, such as a car, truck, or bus. In plain terms, something that carries or transports — literally (a car, truck) or figuratively (a means to an end).
How do you pronounce “vehicle”?
“Vehicle” is pronounced VEE-ih-kuhl (/ˈvi.ə.kəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “vehicle” in a sentence?
Here is “vehicle” used in a sentence: “The company upgraded its entire fleet of delivery vehicles.”
What is another word for “vehicle”?
Words with a similar meaning to “vehicle” include vahan and conveyance.
What part of speech is “vehicle”?
“Vehicle” is a noun.
Where does the word “vehicle” come from?
The word “vehicle” comes from Latin. Borrowed from French véhicule, from Latin vehiculum ("carriage"), from vehere ("to carry") — the same root that gives us "vector.".
Is “vehicle” a common word?
“Vehicle” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “vehicle” have?
“Vehicle” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a machine used to carry or transport people, goods, or objects, such as a car, truck, or bus.
What are the types of vehicles?
Vehicles are usually grouped by where they travel: road vehicles like cars, buses, trucks, and motorcycles; rail vehicles such as trains and trams; watercraft like boats and ships; and aircraft including planes and helicopters. They can also be split by power source, from petrol and diesel to electric.
What is the difference between a vehicle and a car?
A car is just one kind of vehicle. Vehicle is the broad umbrella term for any machine that transports people or goods, covering trucks, buses, motorcycles, trains, and boats as well. So every car is a vehicle, but a vehicle is not necessarily a car.
What is an example of a vehicle?
Common examples include a family car, a delivery van, a city bus, a lorry, and a motorcycle. More broadly, trains, boats, and aeroplanes are vehicles too, since each is a machine built to carry people or cargo from one place to another.
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