What does tricycle mean?
A tricycle is a pedal-powered vehicle with three wheels, most commonly a small cycle ridden by a child. Unlike a bicycle, it remains upright without continuous balancing, which makes it a familiar early form of independent transport. The word can also denote an adult-sized or three-wheeled pedal cycle, while "trike" is a frequent informal alternative; in North American English, however, "trike" may instead mean a motorcycle with a sidecar. "Tricycle" is normally used as a noun, but it can be a verb meaning to ride or travel on a tricycle, especially in narrative writing. Its associations with playrooms, pavements, and early childhood make it nostalgic in ordinary conversation, although the term itself is neutral and precise. The word was formed in English during the nineteenth century from Greek roots meaning "three" and "wheel" or "circle." Today it remains useful for distinguishing a stable, three-wheeled pedal vehicle from a two-wheeled bicycle and for naming the action of riding one.
A pedal-powered vehicle with three wheels, usually a small cycle intended for a child.
"She raced her tricycle down the garden path."
The word is neutral, though tricycles are commonly associated with early childhood and may evoke nostalgia.
To ride or travel on a tricycle.
"The children tricycled along the seaside promenade."
This intransitive use is less frequent than the noun and is especially natural in narrative writing.
The regular plural is used for multiple tricycles; the final "s" is pronounced.
"Several old tricycles were parked beside the school gate."
A tricycle trades a bicycle's balancing act for the stability of a third wheel.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tricycle come from?
The English noun dates from the late nineteenth century and was formed from Greek treis ("three") and kyklos ("circle" or "wheel"), the latter also underlying English cycle. The compound was used for a pedal vehicle with one front wheel and two rear wheels, a design that offered greater stability than a bicycle. Its formation parallels bicycle and other compounds such as unicycle and monocycle.
Related word forms
How tricycle is actually used
The noun is standard in general English and is strongly associated with childhood, although adult-sized pedal tricycles also exist. The verb is less frequent and often appears in narrative descriptions of children or earlier periods.
Easily confused with tricycle
A tricycle is a pedal-powered three-wheeled cycle, whereas trike is an informal word that may also mean a three-wheeled motorcycle or motorcycle with a sidecar.