motorcycle en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈməʊtəˌsaɪkəl/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈməʊʔəˌsaɪkl̩/ (UK, dialectal)
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈmoʊtɚˌsaɪkəl/ (General-American)
- /ˈmoʊtɚsɪk(ə)l/ (dated)
- (US) audio
- [ˈmoʊɾɚˌsaɪkl̩] (General-American)
Etymology
From motor + cycle, from the Motorcyclette produced in 1897 by the French Werner Frères et Cie.
Meanings
-
An open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel, and having two (or sometimes three) wheels.
Vern rubbed her hands along the motorcycles, admiring their size and power, their silver and black sleekness.
2021, Rivers Solomon, Sorrowland, #Merky Books, page 43:Her breakout was the 2017 production “Nate” (available as a Netflix special) in which she played a toxic, handsy bro who drove a motorcycle onstage, guzzling beers, groping audience members and creating chaos.
2025 October 7, Jason Zinoman, “What Clowns! (That’s a Compliment)”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 07 Oct 2025:Her big mission is to recover the precious Blue Star (a glowing rock in a box), which leads to a Western shoot-out, a space-age motorcycle gang, and an unamusing Darth Vader-esque villain.
1995 October 14, Steven Puchalski, “Can these sci-fi videos show us the Woman of the Future?”, in Sci Fi Entertainment, page 36:That last problem did intrude on Hazzard’s roamings, and when she refers to the living city it is with periodic references to thefts of cars and wallets, with a warning not to carry anything “snatchable” by the thieves on motorcycles who whiz through the streets. Her husband, Francis Steegmuller, the critic, translator and biographer who died in 1994, had a bag snatched, and while he lost only a guidebook, he was badly injured as he held on to it and was dragged behind the attacking motorcycle.
2009 February 15, Judith Martin, “It Started in Naples”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 16 Jun 2022:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| motor-cycle | alternative | lexicographic | |
| motor cycle | alternative | lexicographic | |
| motorcycles | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
Deriveds
motorcycle sport · donorcycle · touring motorcycle · motorcycling · nonmotorcycle · boatercycle · e-motorcycle · motorcycler · motorcyclist · motorcycle taxi · motorcycle club · moto-cross · motorcycle speedway
Descendants
motorcykel · motorsykkel · मोटरसाइकिल · มอเตอร์ไซค์ · motorcykel · মোটর সাইকেল · motorsykkel · 모터사이클 · motosikal · မော်တော်ဆိုင်ကယ်
Relateds
Synonyms
cycle (motor-powered vehicle) · mo'rcyc'l (motor-powered vehicle) · motorbicycle (motor-powered vehicle) · bike (motor-powered vehicle) · autobike (motor-powered vehicle) · chopper (motor-powered vehicle) · autobicycle (motor-powered vehicle) · motorbike (motor-powered vehicle) · moped (motor-powered vehicle)
Translations (186)
ky мотоцикл (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · lb Motorrad (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · acm ماطورْ (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ga gluaisrothar (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · sk motocykel (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · uz mototsikl (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · fi moottoripyörä (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · yi מאָטאָציקל (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · pnb موٹر سیکل (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · de Motorrad (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · nan-hbl 機器跤踏車 /机器跤踏车 (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · cmn 機器腳踏車 /机器脚踏车 (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · my မော်တော်ဆိုင်ကယ် (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ast moto (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · az motosiklet (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · et mootorratas (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · th รถเครื่อง (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · acm دباب (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ms sepeda motor (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · es motocicleta (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · za mohdozceh (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · lb Moto (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ha babur (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · cy beic modur (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · es moto (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ne मोटरसाइकल (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · jv dogos (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · mn мотоцикл (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · la autobirota (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · mh wōtbai (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · mg môtô (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · be матацы́кл (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ko 모터사이클 (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · pt motocicleta (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · lo ລົດຈັກ (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · lv motocikls (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · it moto (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · id sepeda motor (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · es motor (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · wuu 摩托車 /摩托车 (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · sd موٽر سائيڪل (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ug موتسىكلىت (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · tl motorsiklo (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · mi motopaika (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · prs موتَرْسَیْکَل (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ka მოტოციკლი (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · hak 引擎 (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · gsw Töff (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ru мотоци́кл (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · yue 摩托車 /摩托车 (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · shn မေႃႇတေႃႇၸၢႆႇၵိူဝ်ႇ (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · vi mô tô (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · cmn 摩托車 /摩托车 (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · cs motocykl (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · bo མོ་ཐོ (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ba мотоцикл (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · mn ᠮᠣᠲ᠋ᠣᠼᠢᠻᠯ (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ceb motorsiklo (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ps موټرګاټ (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ja 単車 (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · gu બાઈક (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · yue 電單車 /电单车 (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · it motociclo (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · dng мотоцикл (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · es motora (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · bcl motorsiklo (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · el μοτοσυκλέτα (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ps ټپټپ (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · khb ᦷᦙᧉᦷᦒᧉ (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · he אוֹפַנּוֹעַ (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · sq motoçikletë (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · vo motorasaikul (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ast motocicleta (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · si යතුරුපැදිය (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · th มอไซค์ (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · pa ਮੋਟਰਸਾਈਕਲ (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · wuh moto (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · tk motosikl (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · eo motorbiciklo (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ar مُوتُوسِيكِل (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ro motocicletă (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · vi xe gắn máy (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · vi xe mô tô (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · haw mokokaikala (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · kk мотоцикл (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · sl motocikel (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · yo ọ̀kadà (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · km ទោចក្រយានយន្ត (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · hil motorsiklo (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · mt mutur (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ja バイク (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · dng мотуәчә (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · hi मोटरबाइक (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · mk мотор (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ca moto (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · uk мотоци́кл (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · fr motocycle (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ko 오토바이 (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · hak 機車 /机车 (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · bn মোটরসাইকেল (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · sv motorcykel (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · da motorcykel (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · km ម៉ូតូ (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · hak 奧多拜 /奥多拜 (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · hy մոտո (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · nb motorsykkel (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · or ମଟର ସାଇକେଲ (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · yo alùpùpù (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · cmn 電單車 /电单车 (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · af motorfiets (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · th จักรยานยนต์ (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · kmr motorsiklêt (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · is mótorhjól (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · gl moto (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · st sethuthuthu (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · pa ਬਾਈਕ (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ti ሞቶ (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · fr motocyclette (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · gu મોટરસાયકલ (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · nv dziʼizítsoh (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · eo motorciklo (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ps موټرسايکل (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · hy մոտոցիկլ (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · bo མོ་ཐོ་ཁྲེ (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ca motocicleta (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · it motocicletta (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · jv montor (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · as মটৰ চাইকেল (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · nl motorfiets (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · el μηχανή (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · nan-hbl 歐兜邁 /欧兜迈 (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · jv motor (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · io motorobiciklo (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · hy մոտոցիկլետ (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · el μοτοποδήλατο (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · sw pikipiki (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · cs motorka (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ur موٹَر سائِیکِل (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · cmn 機車 /机车 (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · lo ຣົຖຈັກ (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ka მოტოციკლეტი (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · nl motor (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · arz متوسكل (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · gl motocicleta (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ar دَرَّاجَة نَارِيَّة (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · sk motorka (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · mk мотоци́кл (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · am ሞተርሳይክል (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ms motosikal (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · bg мотоцикле́т (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · nan-hbl 機車 /机车 (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · th มอเตอร์ไซค์ (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ja オートバイ (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · sh motocìkl (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · vi xe máy (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · rsk моторка (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · dng хуәчичәзы (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · shn လူတ်ႉၶိူင်ႈ (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · alt мотоцикл (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · tg мотосикл (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · sq motor (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · sh мотоцѝкл (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · el μοτοσικλέτα (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · hu motorbicikli (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · el δίκυκλο (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · cdo 摩托車 /摩托车 (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · lt motociklas (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · pl motocykl (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · hu motorkerékpár (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · nn motorsykkel (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ja 自動二輪車 (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · pl motor (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · am ዶቅዶቄ (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · cmn 摩托 (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · fa-ira موتورْسیکْلِت (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · ps ټپټپی (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · nan-hbl 引擎 (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · nan-hbl 撲撲車 /扑扑车 (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · pa ਮੋਟਰਬਾਈਕ (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · tr motosiklet (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · pt moto (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · za mozdozceh (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · hi मोटरसाइकिल (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · fr moto (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · sa यन्त्रद्विचक्रिका (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel) · bo སྦག་སྦག (open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel)