motorcycle
gb/mˈoʊtɚsˌaɪkəl/ us/mˈoʊtɚsˌaɪkəl/
A2
English
~ 4600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Two-wheeled motor vehicle
A vehicle with two wheels and a motor that you ride like a bicycle but faster.
Usage pattern:
to ride [a motorcycle]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'motorcycle' with 'bicycle'; remember that a motorcycle has an engine.
Synonyms
motorbike (Common in British English; slightly more informal in tone.)
|
bike (Informal and can also mean a bicycle, so less precise.)
Antonyms
bicycle (Has two wheels but is powered by pedaling rather than an engine.)
Collocations
ride a motorcycle
|motorcycle helmet
|motorcycle accident
|motorcycle license
|motorcycle club
Themes
transportation
|daily life
|travel
|daily_life
Examples
- He bought a new motorcycle to commute to work.
- The police officer chased the suspect on a motorcycle.
- She wore a leather jacket while riding her motorcycle.
- Motorcycle racing is a popular sport in many countries.
Learner examples
- I ride my motorcycle to work every day.
- My brother has a red motorcycle.
- She bought a motorcycle last year.
- He wears a helmet when he rides his motorcycle.
Grammar
Dictionary form
motorcycle
IPA
GB/mˈoʊtɚsˌaɪkəl/
US/mˈoʊtɚsˌaɪkəl/
Syllables & stress
mo - tor - cycle (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (mo)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: motorcycle
- Plural: motorcycles
Word family
Forms
motorcycles
noun
Core family
motorbike
noun A2
motorcyclist
noun
Related words
motorcycling
noun
biker
noun
Expressions
motorcycle club
1/mˈoʊtɚsˌaɪkəl klˈʌb/
fixed phrase
Group of people who ride motorcycles together
A group of people who meet and ride motorcycles together.
Examples
- He joined a local motorcycle club to meet other riders.
- The motorcycle club organizes charity rides every year.
motorcycle helmet
1/mˈoʊtɚsˌaɪkəl hˈɛlmət/
fixed phrase
Protective headgear for motorcyclists
A hard hat you wear on your head to stay safe when riding a motorcycle.
Examples
- Wearing a motorcycle helmet can save your life in an accident.
- He bought a new motorcycle helmet with a built-in visor.
ride a motorcycle
1/ɹˈaɪd ə mˈoʊtɚsˌaɪkəl/
fixed phrase
Operate and travel on a motorcycle
To sit on and control a motorcycle so it moves.
Examples
- She learned how to ride a motorcycle last summer.
- You must have a special license to ride a motorcycle.