Bike

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -aɪk

From bicycle, by shortening, and possibly alteration.

One explanation for the pronunciation is that bicycle is parsed to bi(cy)c(le). An alternative explanation is that bicycle is shortened to bic(ycle), and the terminal s is converted to a k because there is an underlying underspecification k/s sound, which is softened to s in bicycle but retained as k in bike; compare the letter ‘c’ (used for k/s).

An Etymological Brainteaser: The Shortening of Bicycle to Bike, Robert B. Hausmann, American Speech, Vol. 51, No. 3/4 (Autumn - Winter, 1976), pp. 272–274

Full definition of bike

Noun

1. A short form of bicycle.
2. A short form of motorbike.
3. (slang) A promiscuous woman; from “the town bike (everybody rides her)”.

Synonyms

• (motorcycle): motorbike
• (woman): slapper (British), slag (British)

Derived terms

• (bicycle) dirt bike; like riding a bike; mountain bike; road bike; bike rental
• (motorcycle) biker; bikey or bikie (Australia); quad bike
• (woman) town bike

Verb

1. To ride a bike.I biked so much yesterday that I'm very sore today.
2. To travel by bike.It was such a nice day I decided to bike to the store, though it's far enough I usually take my car.

Origin unknown.

Noun

1. (Scotland, Northern England) A nest of wasps or hornets.
• 1955, Robin Jenkins, The Cone-Gatherers, Canongate 2012, p. 107:he stood for a minute talking to them about their job of gathering cones, and telling them a story about a tree he'd once climbed which had a wasp's byke in it unbeknown to him.

Anagrams

• Beki
• kibe