What is the difference between bike and bicycle?

Bicycle is a synonym of bike.

As nouns the difference between bike and bicycle

is that bike is a short form of bicycle while bicycle is 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.

As verbs the difference between bike and bicycle

is that bike is to ride a bike while bicycle is to travel or exercise using a bicycle.

bike

English

Etymology 1

From , 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 [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

Noun

(en noun)

A short form of bicycle.

A short form of motorbike.

(slang) A promiscuous woman; from “the town bike (everybody rides her)”.

Synonyms

* (motorcycle): motorbike * (woman): slapper (British''), slag (''British )

Derived terms

* (bicycle) cross bike; dirt bike; like riding a bike; mountain bike; road bike; utility bike * (motorcycle) biker; bikey or bikie (Australia ); quad bike * (woman) town bike, village bike

References

Verb

(bik)

To ride a bike.

I biked so much yesterday that I'm very sore today.

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.

Etymology 2

Origin unknown.

Noun

(en noun)

(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

* * English collective nouns ----

bicycle

English

(wikipedia bicycle)

Noun

(en noun)

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.

A traveling block used on a cable in skidding logs.

The best possible hand in lowball.

(British, AU, NZ) A motorbike.

Synonyms

* bike (colloquial) * cycle * push bike, pushbike * velocipede * See also

Verb

(bicycl)

To travel or exercise using a bicycle.