shuttle

shuttle — noun

1. a bus, train, aircraft, or spacecraft that travels back and forth on a fixed rou

1.nounB1
Definition

a bus, train, aircraft, or spacecraft that travels back and forth on a fixed route between two places, especially one that runs on a regular schedule

Example

The hotel runs a free shuttle bus from the airport for its guests.

compound: shuttle bus

Walid took the airport shuttle to reach the terminal before his flight.

Common collocations
  • shuttle bus
  • shuttle service
  • shuttle train
  • airport shuttle
  • hotel shuttle
  • space shuttle
  • shuttle flight
  • shuttle from
  • shuttle between
Synonyms
  • shuttle bus

    a specific type of shuttle limited to road vehicles on a short route

  • shuttle service

    focuses on the scheduled transport system rather than the vehicle itself

Grammar Patterns

shuttle + noun (as modifier)

the + shuttle + between + place + and + place

Usage Note

Shuttle can describe buses, trains, aircraft, or spacecraft. Common compounds include 'shuttle bus', 'shuttle service', 'shuttle train', and 'space shuttle'. A shuttle is defined by its regular two-point route, not by the type of vehicle.

Common Mistakes

I took the shuttle bus to work this morning and it was very crowded.
I took the shuttle to work this morning and it was very crowded.
When the context is clear, 'shuttle' alone is sufficient; 'shuttle bus' is only needed when distinguishing from other shuttles.

2. in weaving, a long, narrow tool shaped like a small boat that holds the crosswis

2.nounC1
Definition

in weaving, a long, narrow tool shaped like a small boat that holds the crosswise thread and passes it back and forth between the lengthwise threads on a loom

Example

In traditional weaving, the shuttle passes the thread from one side to the other.

Kemi watched the shuttle glide through the threads as her grandmother worked at the loom.

weaving context: loom / warp / weft

Common collocations
  • weaving shuttle
  • wooden shuttle
  • metal shuttle
  • shuttle on a loom
  • throw the shuttle
  • pass the shuttle

Usage Note

This is a technical term used mainly in weaving and textile contexts. The shuttle carries the weft (crosswise) thread between the warp (lengthwise) threads. It is unrelated to the transportation sense.

3. in badminton, the small feathered projectile with a rounded cork base that playe

3.nounB2
Definition

in badminton, the small feathered projectile with a rounded cork base that players strike over the net with their rackets

Example

The shuttle flew over the net, and Wei lunged forward to hit it back.

A good badminton shuttle has sixteen feathers arranged in a precise pattern.

badminton-specific use: feather construction

Common collocations
  • badminton shuttle
  • feather shuttle
  • nylon shuttle
  • hit the shuttle
  • serve the shuttle
  • pack of shuttles
Synonyms
  • shuttlecock

    the full formal name, more common in written rules and official contexts

  • birdie

    informal American term, rarely used in formal badminton

Usage Note

In badminton, the object is formally called a 'shuttlecock,' but players often shorten it to 'shuttle' in casual conversation. High-quality shuttles use real feathers, while practice shuttles use nylon or plastic.

Common Mistakes

The birdie hit the net.
The shuttle hit the net.
'Birdie' is an informal term used in American English; in standard international badminton terminology, use 'shuttle' or 'shuttlecock.'

shuttle — verb

Word family

  • shuttlecock
    nounB2
  • shuttling
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Shuttle, commute, and ply all describe regular movement between two points, but they differ in scope and context. Shuttle emphasises a fixed route travelled back and forth, often with the purpose of transporting multiple people (e.g., 'The van shuttles guests from the hotel to the airport every half-hour'). Commute is narrower: it refers specifically to the regular journey between home and work, and only applies to a single person's travel (e.g., 'She commutes from Taichung to Taipei by train every Monday'). Ply is more formal and literary; it usually describes a vehicle that serves a route, such as a ferry or bus offering regular service (e.g., 'Old ferries still ply the river between the two towns'). For everyday use in transportation contexts, shuttle is the most practical choice for describing a service, while commute fits personal work travel.

shuttle ↗commuteply

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • shuttle between
  • shuttle from ... to ...
  • shuttle back and forth
  • shuttle service
  • shuttle bus
  • space shuttle

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Shuttle comes from Old English 'scytel,' meaning 'a dart or missile,' related to 'scēotan' (to shoot). The word was first used for the weaving tool, which was 'shot' across the loom by the weaver. By the 19th century, the meaning expanded to describe trains and buses that 'shoot' back and forth between two fixed points. The space shuttle, developed in the 1970s, extended the metaphor to spaceflight.