vehicle

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noun ve·hi·cle \ ˈvē-ə-kəl also ˈvē-ˌhi-kəl \

Definition of vehicle

1 :a means of carrying or transporting something

planes, trains, and other vehicles

: such as

a :motor vehicle

b :a piece of mechanized equipment

2 :an agent of transmission :carrier

3 :a medium through which something is expressed, achieved, or displayed

an investment vehicle

; especially :a work created especially to display the talents of a particular performer

4 a :an inert medium (such as a syrup) in which a medicinally active agent is administered

b :any of various media acting usually as solvents, carriers, or binders for active ingredients or pigments

See vehicle defined for English-language learners

See vehicle defined for kids

Examples of vehicle in a Sentence

cars, trucks, and other vehicles
The vehicle's driver was severely injured in the crash.
Have you seen his new car? It's a fine-looking vehicle.
Water and insects can be vehicles of infection.
art as a vehicle for self-expression
Words and pictures are vehicles of communication.
These big-budget movies are star vehicles for well-known actors.

Recent Examples of vehicle from the Web

Amazon and Microsoft are cutting deals with carmakers to integrate their assistants directly into vehicles.

— nick wingfield, New York Times, "‘Cortana, Open Alexa,’ Amazon Says. And Microsoft Agrees.," 30 Aug. 2017
NASA, Marshall and prime contractor Teledyne Brown Engineering teamed up on the cone officially called the launch vehicle stage adapter.

— william thornton, AL.com, "Anniston attempting to lure battery technology research facility," 30 Aug. 2017
Residents at a recent Village Board meeting following the home invasion said that cameras that can read vehicle license plates are needed, particularly near the interchange of Harlem and Interstate 80.

— mike nolan, Daily Southtown, "Tinley considers beefing up network of surveillance cameras," 30 Aug. 2017
There were a dozen police vehicles, and the crowd slowly grew.

— keith bierygolick, Cincinnati.com, "The good, the bad and the ugly outside a Confederate monument meeting," 30 Aug. 2017
A Mountain Home man died early Wednesday morning after being ejected from his vehicle following a car crash.

— michael katz, idahostatesman, "Mountain Home man dies in Owyhee County rollover crash," 30 Aug. 2017
The new Cayenne is the first vehicle to offer Porsche’s Surface Coated Brakes, which incorporate a tungsten-carbide surface layer on traditional iron rotors that is intended to extend longevity, improve performance, and reduce brake dust.

— jens meiners, Car and Driver, "2019 Porsche Cayenne Revealed: The Porsche of SUVs, Take Three," 30 Aug. 2017
Both the unnamed victim and Alexander were taken in private vehicles to a hospital Friday, Looney said.

— emily lane, NOLA.com, "Man booked in gun battle outside Magazine Street salon," 30 Aug. 2017
Two vehicle tires and a tire on a boat trailer were punctured between Aug. 19 and 20 in the 1700 block of 70th Street.

— jane ford-stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "West Allis police report: Surprised burglar pulls gun on resident," 30 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vehicle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of vehicle

borrowed from French & Latin; French véhicule, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin vehiculum "medium, agent of transmission," going back to Latin, "wheeled vehicle, means of transport," from vehere "to carry, convey" + -culum, instrumental suffix (going back to Indo-European *-tlom) — more at ¹way

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1612

See Words from the same year

vehicle Synonyms

Synonyms

agency, instrument, instrumentality, machinery, means, medium, ministry, organ, agent

Other Paints and Dyes Terms

bloom, craze, medium, size

VEHICLE Defined for English Language Learners

vehicle

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noun

Definition of vehicle for English Language Learners

: a machine that is used to carry people or goods from one place to another
: the thing that allows something to be passed along, expressed, achieved, or shown

VEHICLE Defined for Kids

vehicle

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noun ve·hi·cle \ ˈvē-ˌi-kəl , -ˌhi- \

Definition of vehicle for Students

1 :something used to transport people or goods

2 :a means by which something is expressed, achieved, or shown

She used the show as a vehicle to display her talent.

Medical Dictionary

vehicle

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noun ve·hi·cle \ ˈvē-ˌ(h)ik-əl , ˈvē-ə-kəl \

medical Definition of vehicle

1 :an inert medium in which a medicinally active agent is administered

2 :an agent of transmission

a vehicle of infection

Learn More about vehicle

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for vehicle Spanish Central: Translation of vehicle Nglish: Translation of vehicle for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of vehicle for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about vehicle

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vehicle

Definition of vehicle

From the M-W Editors

Examples of vehicle in a Sentence

Recent Examples of vehicle from the Web

Origin and Etymology of vehicle

vehicle Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Other Paints and Dyes Terms

Phrases Related to VEHICLE

Related Phrases

VEHICLE Defined for English Language Learners

vehicle

Definition of vehicle for English Language Learners

VEHICLE Defined for Kids

vehicle

Definition of vehicle for Students

Medical Dictionary

vehicle

medical Definition of vehicle

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