motorbike

motorbike — noun

1. a machine with two wheels that runs on an engine and carries people along roads

1.nounA2
Definition

a machine with two wheels that runs on an engine and carries people along roads

Example

Esteban rides his motorbike to work every morning.

ride + motorbike + to [place]

A motorbike can weave through heavy traffic more easily than a car.

motorbike + weave through + traffic

Common collocations
  • ride a motorbike
  • drive a motorbike
  • park a motorbike
  • motorbike helmet
  • motorbike accident
Synonyms
  • motorcycle

    the standard term in American English; more formal than 'motorbike'

  • bike

    informal and can mean either bicycle or motorbike depending on context

Grammar Patterns

a/the motorbike

by motorbike

Usage Note

In British English, 'motorbike' commonly refers to any size of motorcycle. In American English, 'motorcycle' is the more frequent term for the full-sized vehicle.

Common Mistakes

He bought a new motorbike bicycle.
He bought a new motorbike.
'motorbike' already means a motorised two-wheeled vehicle; adding 'bicycle' is redundant.
She rides a motorbike bicycle to school.
She rides a motorbike to school.
'motorbike' is a complete term on its own.

2. a smaller, lighter motorcycle with a less powerful engine, originally built like

2.nounB1
Definition

a smaller, lighter motorcycle with a less powerful engine, originally built like a bicycle with a small motor attached

Example

Meera bought a small motorbike for travelling around the city.

small motorbike + for [purpose]

Hassan let his daughter learn to ride on his old motorbike.

learn to ride + on [possessive] motorbike

Common collocations
  • lightweight motorbike
  • small motorbike
  • electric motorbike
  • learner motorbike
Synonyms
  • moped

    even smaller, with pedals and a very small engine; top speed is usually limited by law

  • scooter

    has a step-through frame and smaller wheels; rider sits with feet together on a flat board

Antonyms
  • motorcycle

    standard term for a full-sized, more powerful two-wheeled vehicle

Grammar Patterns

a/the motorbike

small/lightweight motorbike

Usage Note

This sense is more common in British English, where 'motorbike' can suggest a smaller machine. In modern usage the boundary between sense 1 and sense 2 is often unclear, and many speakers use 'motorbike' for any motorcycle.

Common Mistakes

I bought a motorbike. It has a 1000cc engine.
I bought a motorcycle. It has a 1000cc engine.
a 1000cc machine is not a small/lightweight motorbike; use 'motorcycle' for large bikes.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three terms describe powered two-wheeled vehicles, but they differ in size, power, and regional usage. 'Motorcycle' is the broadest and most formal term, covering machines of any engine size; it is the default word in American English. 'Motorbike' (sense 1) is largely synonymous with 'motorcycle' in British English, though it can suggest a smaller machine. A 'scooter' has smaller wheels, a step-through frame, and the rider's feet rest together on a flat platform — think of a Vespa. A 'moped' is the smallest category, with pedals like a bicycle and a very small engine; its top speed is often legally capped (usually around 45 km/h). Example: 'Theo commutes on a large motorcycle, while his sister rides a scooter, and their younger brother uses a moped for short trips around the village.'

motorcycle ↗scooter ↗moped ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • motorbike rider
  • motorbike helmet
  • motorbike engine
  • motorbike lane
  • motorbike courier

Phrases

  • ride a motorbike
  • get on a motorbike
  • fall off a motorbike
  • rev up a motorbike

Prepositions

  • on a motorbike
  • by motorbike
  • off a/the motorbike

Etymology

LatinGreekEnglish

'Motorbike' is a compound formed from 'motor' (from Latin 'motor', meaning 'mover') and 'bike' (a shortening of 'bicycle', which comes from Latin 'bi-' meaning 'two' and Greek 'kyklos' meaning 'circle' or 'wheel'). The word first appeared in English in the late 1800s, when inventors began fitting small petrol engines onto bicycle frames to create early motorised two-wheelers.