bike
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /baɪk/
ipa: [bɐɪk]
rhymes: -aɪk
Forms: form: bikes
Etymology: Clipping of bicycle. First attested in 1882.
One explanation for the form with /k/ is that bicycle was parsed to bi(cy)c(le). An alternative explanation is that it was parsed to bic(ycle) but since speakers are aware of a general /k/~/s/ alternation (as in electric ~ electricity etc.), the softened /s/ was restored to a default /k/ when the “ending” -ycle was dropped. A similar case is merc /mɜɹk/ for mercenary. It seems unlikely, however, that this process is purely phonological and not at least partially based on the spelling ⟨c⟩.
Senses: examples: text: It's called a gravel bike, and seems to combine the advantages of both road and mountain bikes – with a similar ability to lap up the miles on tarmac as a road bike, while still being very capable off-road.
ref: 2017, Chiz Dakin, Cycling in the Peak District […] , Cicerone Press Limited, →ISBN:
glosses: Clipping of bicycle.
glosses: Clipping of motorbike.
examples: text: He warmed up the engine; the bike hovered off the ground despite his weight and the extra equipment.
ref: 2017 July 17, Nell's Tavern, Larry Brasington, page 50:
text: In 2017, Amsterdam banned beer bikes from the center of the Dutch city. About 6,000 locals signed a petition, calling on the council to outlaw the vehicles, referring to them as a “terrible phenomenon.”
ref: 2021 May 18, Michael Hearst, Unconventional Vehicles: Forty-Five of the Strangest Cars, Trains, Planes, Submersibles, Dirigibles, and Rockets EVER, Chronicle Books, →ISBN, page 17:
glosses: Any vehicle sharing some characteristics with a bicycle or motorbike, such as pedal power, a handlebar, or a saddle.
synonyms: slapper
slag
glosses: Ellipsis of village bike.
Hyponyms: cargo bike
cross bike
dirt bike
electric bike
fat bike
fatbike
fire bike
mountain bike
pit bike
pushbike
racing bike
road bike
street bike
track bike
utility bike
Derived terms: word: antibike
word: aquabike
word: aqua bike
word: balance bike
word: bar bike
word: beer bike
word: bikable
word: bike-and-ride
word: bikeathon
word: bike box
word: bike cab
word: bikefishing
word: bike jockey strap
word: bike lane
word: bike-lash
word: bikelash
word: bikeless
word: bike lift
word: bikelike
word: bikelock
word: bike lock
word: bikemaker
word: bike motocross
word: bikepacker
word: bikepacking
word: bike path
word: bikeporn
word: bike pump
word: biker
word: bike rack
word: bike ride
word: bikeroad
word: bikery
word: bikeshare
word: bike shed
word: bikeshed
word: bike-shedding
word: bike stand
word: bike staple
word: bike station
word: biketard
word: bike taxi
word: bikeway
word: bikewear
word: bikie
word: bikey
word: BMX bike
word: Boris bike
word: box bike
word: Christ on a bike
word: conference bike
word: dirtbike
word: e-bike
word: exercise bike
word: ghost bike
word: gravel bike
word: handbike
word: hand bike
word: hoverbike
word: hyperbike
word: lady's bike
word: like riding a bike
word: litrebike
word: minibike
word: monkey bike
word: musclebike
word: off-road bike
word: on yer bike
word: on your bike
word: outbike
word: party bike
word: pocket bike
word: push bike
word: push-bike
word: quad bike
word: racebike
word: railbike
word: rat bike
word: skibike
word: skybike
word: snow bike
word: spinning bike
word: sportbike
word: sport bike
word: stationary bike
word: superbike
word: town bike
word: trail bike
word: village bike
word: waterbike
word: water bike
Related terms: trike