Definition of "bicycle"

bicycle

/ˈbaɪsɪk(ə)l/

noun
plural bicycles
1. A vehicle that has two wheels, one behind the other, a steering handle, and a saddle seat or seats and is usually propelled by the action of a rider’s feet upon pedals.
  Quotations
  In most English villages, as we are informed, bicycles are not allowed on the sidewalks; and the hand-books issued by English manufacturers of bicycles caution their customers that it is a forbidden practice, while in many places bells have to be attached to the bicycles even when ridden in the streets.
  1882, “Principle in Small Things”, in Popular Science Monthly, volume 22, page 274
2. A traveling block used on a cable in skidding logs.
3. The best possible hand in lowball.
4. (Britain, Australia, New Zealand) A motorbike.
5. (vulgar slang, usually in compounds specifying a context) A slut; a promiscuous woman.
  Quotations
  ‘What sort of bullying does this sergeant go in for?’ ‘Character assassination,’ she said in a matter-of-fact tone that belied the very real difficulties it was causing her. ‘There’s a lot of whispering about slags and tarts behind my back and sniggers whenever I appear. Half of the men seem to think I’m a dyke who needs curing, the other half think I’m the platoon bicycle. [...]’
  2002, Minette Walters, Fox Evil, Macmillan, pages 162–3
6. (climbing) A stabilizing technique in which one foot is pushed down while the other is pulled up.
7. (poker slang) The wheel: either the lowest straight (A-2-3-4-5) or the best low hand in Lowball or High-low poker.
verb
third-person singular simple present bicycles, present participle bicycling, simple past and past participle bicycled
1. (transitive, intransitive) To travel or exercise using a bicycle.
  Quotations
  “At least it cannot be your health," said he, as his keen eyes darted over her; "so ardent a bicyclist must be full of energy.” […] “Yes, I bicycle a good deal, Mr. Holmes, and that has something to do with my visit to you to-day.”
  1903 December 26, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist”, in The Return of Sherlock Holmes, New York, N.Y.: McClure, Phillips & Co., published February 1905
2. (television, historical, transitive) To physically ship (a recorded programme) to another broadcasting entity.
  Quotations
  “Bicycling” defeated the possibility of topicality, a prime production habit of the network-trained production executives staffing the new entity.
  2002, Roger Phillips Smith, The Other Face of Public Television, page 56
  In turn, two-inch tapes of these could be “bicycled” from one place to another across the country, thereby altering and improving production economies.
  2014, Horace Newcomb, Encyclopedia of Television, page 177

Definition of "bicycle"

bicycle

noun

Quotations

Quotations

verb

Quotations

Quotations