I. bi ‧ cy ‧ cle 1 W3 /ˈbaɪsɪk ə l/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Language: French ; Origin: bi- + -cycle (as in tricycle ) ]
a vehicle with two wheels that you ride by pushing its ↑ pedal s with your feet SYN bike :
Can James ride a bicycle yet?
⇨ ↑ exercise bike
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In everyday English, people usually say bike rather than bicycle :
▪
They go everywhere by bike.
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COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ ride a bicycle
Riding a bicycle is very good exercise.
▪ get on/off a bicycle
I got on my bicycle and cycled over to Rob’s house.
▪ push/wheel a bicycle (=walk beside it pushing it)
She was wheeling her bicycle and talking to some friends.
■ bicycle + NOUN
▪ a bicycle shop ( also bicycle store American English )
His dream was to own a bicycle shop.
▪ a bicycle ride
They went for a 50 km bicycle ride.
▪ a bicycle wheel/tyre
My front bicycle tyre is flat.
▪ a bicycle pump (=for putting more air in a tyre)
Where’s the bicycle pump?
▪ a bicycle helmet
It’s safer to wear a bicycle helmet.
▪ a bicycle shed (=place for keeping bicycles in)
He built a bicycle shed in the back yard.
II. bicycle 2 BrE AmE verb [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]
formal to go somewhere by bicycle SYN bike , cycle
—bicyclist noun [countable]