A vehicle is a machine such as a car, bus, or truck which has an engine and is used to carry people from place to place.
The vehicle would not have the capacity to make the journey on one tank of fuel.
...a vehicle which was somewhere between a tractor and a truck.
Synonyms: conveyance [old-fashioned], machine, motor vehicle, means of transport More Synonyms of vehicle
2. countable noun
You can use vehicle to refer to something that you use in order to achieve a particular purpose.
Her art became a vehicle for her political beliefs. [+ for]
The vehicle that permitted both communication and acceptability was social revolution.
Synonyms: medium, means, channel, mechanism More Synonyms of vehicle
vehicle in British English
(ˈviːɪkəl)
noun
1.
any conveyance in or by which people or objects are transported, esp one fitted with wheels
2.
a medium for the expression, communication, or achievement of ideas, information, power, etc
3. pharmacology
a therapeutically inactive substance mixed with the active ingredient to give bulk to a medicine
4. Also called: base
a painting medium, such as oil, in which pigments are suspended
5.
(in the performing arts) a play, musical composition, etc, that enables a particular performer to display his or her talents
6.
a rocket excluding its payload
Derived forms
vehicular (vɪˈhɪkjʊlə)
adjective
Word origin
C17: from Latin vehiculum, from vehere to carry
vehicle in American English
(ˈviəkəl; ˈviˌhɪkəl)
noun
1.
any device or contrivance for carrying or conveying persons or objects, esp. over land or in space, as an automobile, bicycle, sled, or spacecraft
2.
a means by which thoughts are expressed or made known
music as the vehicle for one's ideas
3.
in a metaphor, that word or term whose usual, literal meaning is applied in a figurative, nonliteral way to the tenor (sense 3)
in “all the world's a stage”, “world” is the tenor and “stage” is the vehicle
4.
a play, film, etc. thought of as a means of communication or as a means of presenting a specified actor or company
5. Painting
a liquid, as water or oil, with which pigments are mixed for use
6. Pharmacy
a substance, as a syrup, in which medicines are given
Word origin
Fr véhicule < L vehiculum, carriage < vehere, to carry: see way
vehicle in Insurance
(viɪkəl)
Word forms: (regular plural) vehicles
noun
(Insurance: Vehicle insurance)
A vehicle is a machine with an engine, such as a bus, car, or truck, that carries people orthings from place to place.
In order to operate a motor vehicle legally, a driver must obtain a minimum level of auto insurance to satisfy the lawsof the road.
In the United States, if you are caught driving without insurance your license couldbe suspended and your vehicle impounded.
A vehicle is a machine with an engine, such as a bus, car, or truck, that carries people orthings from place to place.
vehicle insurance
vehicle in the Pharmaceutical Industry
(viɪkəl)
Word forms: (regular plural) vehicles
noun
(Pharmaceutical: Ingredients)
A vehicle is a therapeutically inactive substance mixed with the active ingredient to givebulk to a medicine.
A cream may be used as a vehicle for an antifungal agent.
The vehicle chosen for the formulation should be inert and should not affect the action of theactive ingredients.
A vehicle is a therapeutically inactive substance mixed with the active ingredient to givebulk to a medicine.
COBUILD Collocations
vehicle
emergency vehicle
Examples of 'vehicle' in a sentence
vehicle
We’re seeing autonomous vehicles and robotic vehicles being used out there.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
The demand will be driven by increasing use of electric vehicles.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Car makers are at odds over how far the electric car revolution will go and what should power the vehicles.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Up to one vehicle in 14 drives through red crosses on motorways.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Troops continue to use vehicles that were first produced in the 1960s.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Moving over for 999 vehicles and letting cars out of side streets are acts people feel will go.
The Sun (2016)
In one vehicle, an attempt had been made to conceal the puppies behind bales of wood shavings.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Users in the game perform tasks to gain virtual currency, which is exchanged for new cars and vehicle makeovers.
Computing (2010)
So take a deep breath, leave a safe distance between your vehicle and the car in front and drive at a safe speed.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Yet braking before corners is imperative and controlling your vehicle requires perfect technique.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Troops in tracked vehicles were used to ferry emergency supplies and engineers to fix power supplies.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
You might have an electric vehicle powered by clean energy.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Movements of people and vehicles are being tracked.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Students are also looking at vehicles other than cars.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
If you had a little toy car it drives underneath one of their vehicles or something.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In the summer they can be adapted to use as gardening vehicles or refuse trucks.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
These people have been ramming buses into our vehicles.
Oliver Poole BLACK KNIGHTS: On the Bloody Road to Baghdad (2003)
This will also require bigger vehicles to carry all the extra groceries.
The Sun (2013)
They are often placed in crowded vehicles or boats for long periods of time.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
There will also be three military vehicles on display.
The Sun (2015)
Now they have the perfect vehicle for them to put their money where their mouth is.
The Sun (2009)
They used the same vehicle to return home at the end of the day.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They can be used in pure form or blended with conventional petrol or diesel to power vehicles.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Most large car manufacturers offer loans to people buying new vehicles.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They spent their time running backwards and forwards around the vehicles and buildings carrying wounded victims to shelter.
Stewart, Bob (Lt-Col) Broken Lives (1993)
Treat the traffic like a zip - let one vehicle from the other lane go ahead of you.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
When will the recent fashion for multiple flashing yellow LED hazard lights on trucks and utility vehicles be banned?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
vehicle
British English: vehicle /ˈviːɪkl/ NOUN
A vehicle is a machine with an engine, for example a car, that carries people or things from place to place.
There are too many vehicles on the road.
American English: vehicle
Arabic: سَيَّارَة
Brazilian Portuguese: veículo
Chinese: 车辆
Croatian: vozilo
Czech: vozidlo
Danish: køretøj
Dutch: voertuig
European Spanish: vehículo
Finnish: ajoneuvo
French: véhicule
German: Fahrzeug
Greek: όχημα
Italian: veicolo
Japanese: 乗り物
Korean: 차량
Norwegian: kjøretøy
Polish: pojazd
European Portuguese: veículo
Romanian: vehicul
Russian: транспортное средство
Latin American Spanish: vehículo
Swedish: fordon
Thai: ยานพาหนะ
Turkish: araç otomobil
Ukrainian: транспортний засіб
Vietnamese: xe cộ
All related terms of 'vehicle'
light vehicle
a vehicle designed to carry loads or a small number of passengers up to an officially determined weight , such as a scooter , motorbike , rickshaw, etc
motor vehicle
a road vehicle driven by a motor or engine, esp an internal-combustion engine
hybrid vehicle
A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle using two different forms of power, such as an electric motor and an internal combustion engine , or an electric motor with a battery and fuel cells for energy storage .
launch vehicle
a rocket , without its payload , used to launch a spacecraft
target vehicle
a spacecraft used to develop and practise orbital space rendezvous and docking techniques in preparation for the lunar missions
utility vehicle
A utility vehicle is a vehicle that is designed to travel over rough ground .
vehicle safety
If you are concerned about the safety of something, you are concerned that it might be harmful or dangerous .
commercial vehicle
a vehicle for carrying goods or (less commonly ) passengers
electric vehicle
An electric vehicle is a vehicle that is driven by an electric motor which draws its current either from storage batteries or from overhead cables .
emergency vehicle
A vehicle is a machine such as a car, bus , or truck which has an engine and is used to carry people from place to place.
industrial vehicle
a vehicle designed for use in industry
recovery vehicle
a truck used to transport motor vehicles which have broken down to another location ( generally a repair garage ), or to recover vehicles which are no longer on a drivable surface
vehicle emissions
substances emitted from a vehicle as a result of internal combustion
vehicle insurance
Vehicle insurance is insurance purchased for cars , trucks , motorcycles , and other road vehicles.
articulated vehicle
a large vehicle (esp a lorry ) made in two separate sections, a tractor and a trailer , connected by a pivoted bar
high-sided vehicle
a tall vehicle such as a lorry or double-decker bus
multipurpose vehicle
a large car, similar to a van , designed to carry up to eight passengers
off-road vehicle
An off-road vehicle is a vehicle that is designed to travel over rough ground .
recreational vehicle
A recreational vehicle is a large vehicle that you can live in. The abbreviation → RV is also used.
re-entry vehicle
the portion of a ballistic missile that carries a nuclear warhead and re-enters the earth's atmosphere
air-cushion vehicle
a vehicle that travels just above the surface of land or water on a cushion of air provided by a downward jet from its engines , propellers , etc.
all-terrain vehicle
a vehicle with treads or wheels designed to travel on rough ground
heavy goods vehicle
a large road vehicle for carrying goods
off-highway vehicle
An off-highway vehicle is a vehicle, such as one used for construction or agriculture , that is intended for use on steep or uneven ground.
sport utility vehicle
A sport utility vehicle is a powerful vehicle with four-wheel drive that can be driven over rough ground . The abbreviation → SUV is often used.
track-laying vehicle
A track-laying vehicle is a vehicle whose wheels run inside a continuous chain or track .
armed response vehicle
(in Britain ) a police vehicle carrying armed officers who are trained to respond to incidents involving firearms
public service vehicle
a bus or coach
crossover utility vehicle
a high-powered car with four-wheel drive, originally designed for off-road use
lunar rover
an electric-powered, four-wheeled, open vehicle used by astronauts to explore the surface of the moon
MVA
An MVA happens when a vehicle hits a person, an object, or another vehicle, causing injury or damage .
Chinese translation of 'vehicle'
vehicle
(ˈviːɪkl)
n(c)
(= car, bus etc) 机(機)动(動)车(車) (jīdòngchē) (辆(輛), liàng)
(frm, = means) 工具 (gōngjù) (个(個), gè)
1 (noun)
Definition
a machine such as a bus or car for transporting people or goods
a vehicle which was somewhere between a tractor and a truck
Synonyms
conveyance (old-fashioned)
He had never travelled in such a strange conveyance before.
machine
motor vehicle
means of transport
2 (noun)
Definition
something used to achieve a particular purpose or as a means of expression
Her art became a vehicle for her political beliefs.
Synonyms
medium
English is used as a medium of instruction at primary level.
means
channel
We'll be lodging a complaint through the official channels.
mechanism
the clumsy mechanism of price controls
organ
the People's Daily, the official organ of the Chinese Commmunist Party
apparatus
He was rescued by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus.
means of expression
related words
related phobiaochophobia
see also subject word lists:
See aircraftSee BicyclesSee Boats and shipsSee Carriages and carts
subject word lists
See Types of vehicle
Additional synonyms
in the sense of apparatus
Definition
a collection of equipment used for a particular purpose
He was rescued by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus.
Synonyms
equipment,
machine,
tackle,
gear,
means,
materials,
device,
tools,
implements,
mechanism,
outfit,
machinery,
appliance,
utensils,
contraption (informal)
in the sense of channel
Definition
a means of access or communication
We'll be lodging a complaint through the official channels.
Synonyms
means,
way,
course,
approach,
medium,
route,
path,
avenue
in the sense of mechanism
Definition
a process or technique
the clumsy mechanism of price controls
Synonyms
process,
workings,
way,
means,
system,
performance,
operation,
medium,
agency (old-fashioned),
method,
functioning,
technique,
procedure,
execution,
methodology
Synonyms of 'vehicle'
vehicle
Explore 'vehicle' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of organ
Definition
a means of communication, such as a newspaper issued by a specialist group or party
the People's Daily, the official organ of the Chinese Commmunist Party