Definition

Noun: 1. A human-powered vehicle with three wheels that is propelled by foot pedals. This typically refers to a child's tricycle. 2. Any of several early types of bicycles, especially those with pedals attached directly to the front wheel. This refers to historical precursors to the modern bicycle, such as the boneshaker or penny-farthing.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Tricycle):
  • The toddler learned to ride her new velocipede in the driveway.
  • In the 19th century, the term velocipede was sometimes used for three-wheeled delivery carts.
• Noun (Early Bicycle):
  • The museum has a collection of antique velocipedes from the 1860s.
  • Riding an early velocipede with its large front wheel was a daring and bumpy experience.

Advanced Usage

• The term is now considered archaic for modern bicycles and is primarily used in historical contexts or humorously.
• It can be used metaphorically to describe something quaint, old-fashioned, or mechanically simple.
  • His business strategy is about as modern as a velocipede.

Variants and Related Words

• Boneshaker: (n.) A specific type of early velocipede (c. 1860s) with iron tires and a wooden frame, known for its rough ride.
• Penny-farthing: (n.) A later type of velocipede (c. 1870s-1880s) characterized by a very large front wheel and a small rear wheel.
• Tricycle: (n.) The modern common term for a three-wheeled, pedal-powered vehicle, especially for children.

Synonyms

• Tricycle (for the three-wheeled meaning).
• Early bicycle, antique bicycle, boneshaker (for the historical two-wheeled meaning).

Related Phrases/Idioms

• (As) slow as a velocipede: Used humorously to describe something very slow-moving.
  • This internet connection is as slow as a velocipede going uphill.

Noun

1. a vehicle with three wheels that is moved by foot pedals
2. any of several early bicycles with pedals on the front wheel