trike
B1informal
Definition
Meaning
A three-wheeled vehicle, typically referring to a child's tricycle.
A light, three-wheeled motor vehicle; informally, any three-wheeled configuration.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a noun in informal contexts; as a verb, it means to ride a trike.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in UK English. In US English, 'tricycle' is slightly more formal, but 'trike' is widely understood and used.
Connotations
Childhood, play, nostalgia. In motor vehicle contexts (e.g., 'motor-trike'), it can have a technical/enthusiast connotation.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK spoken English. In US English, it is common in families with young children but less so in formal writing.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] rides a trike.[Subject] trikes [around/through] [Location].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to 'trike'.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in toy manufacturing or light vehicle retail.
Academic
Virtually never used.
Everyday
Common in family contexts and among cycling enthusiasts.
Technical
Used in descriptions of three-wheeled vehicle designs (e.g., cargo trikes, recumbent trikes).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The toddler loves to trike around the garden.
- He's just learning to trike.
American English
- She triked all the way to the park.
- The kids were triking down the sidewalk.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial use.
American English
- No standard adverbial use.
adjective
British English
- It was a trike race for the under-fives.
- He's in the trike class at nursery.
American English
- They have a trike rally every summer.
- She won the trike competition.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My little brother has a red trike.
- She can ride her trike very fast.
- He graduated from a trike to a proper bicycle last year.
- We bought a sturdy trike for our daughter's birthday.
- The delivery company uses electric cargo trikes in the city centre.
- He restored a vintage motor trike from the 1970s.
- The urban planning report advocated for trike lanes to improve micromobility options.
- The ergonomics of a recumbent trike differ significantly from those of an upright model.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'tri' (three) + 'bike' = trike. It's a bike with three wheels.
Conceptual Metaphor
STABILITY IS THREE WHEELS (vs. the balance of two wheels).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translations like 'трёхколёска'. The standard equivalent is 'трёхколёсный велосипед' (tricycle). 'Trike' is the informal short form.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'trike' with 'bike' in formal writing.
- Using 'trike' as a verb in formal contexts (e.g., 'He triked to school' is very informal).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'trike' LEAST likely to be used formally?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a real, standard English word, but it is informal. It is recognised by major dictionaries as a clipping of 'tricycle'.
Yes. While often associated with children's toys, it is also used for adult three-wheeled vehicles like motor trikes, cargo trikes, and recumbent trikes.
In meaning, no. 'Trike' is simply the informal, shortened form of 'tricycle'. The choice depends on register.
Informally, it means 'to ride a trike'. Example: 'The children were triking happily in the park.' It is not used in formal writing.