tandem
tandem — noun
- tandemsingular
- tandemsplural
1. a bicycle designed for two riders, seated in a front-and-back arrangement
a bicycle designed for two riders, seated in a front-and-back arrangement
Liam rented a tandem for the beach path on Green Island.
collocation: rent a tandem
Obi rode the tandem in front while his daughter rang the bell.
We borrowed a tandem so Grandma could join the park ride.
The shop keeps one tandem outside for couples testing the route.
- tandem bike
A more explicit everyday phrase for the same bicycle.
- double bike
Informal and less standard, but often understood in casual speech.
- single bike
A bicycle made for one rider rather than two.
文法句型
ride a tandem
rent a tandem
a tandem for two riders
用法筆記
Usually a countable noun for the bicycle itself. In everyday speech, many speakers also say 'tandem bike' when they want the meaning to be explicit.
常見錯誤
2. a set of animals, vehicles, or machines linked in a front-and-back line or used
a set of animals, vehicles, or machines linked in a front-and-back line or used as one unit
A tandem of horses pulled the heavy cart through the muddy lane.
pattern: a tandem of + plural noun
A tandem of snowplows cleared the mountain road before dawn.
The factory tested a tandem of pumps along the water line.
A tandem of rescue boats waited outside the flooded tunnel.
- single unit
A lone animal, vehicle, or machine working by itself.
文法句型
a tandem of horses
a tandem of pumps
a tandem of vehicles
用法筆記
This noun is more formal and far less common than noun sense 1. It often appears in descriptive or technical writing about horses, vehicles, and machines that operate as a linked set.
常見錯誤
tandem — adverb
1. in a front-and-back line, with each person or thing following the next
in a front-and-back line, with each person or thing following the next
Ryo and Indra pedaled tandem along the river path at sunset.
pattern: pedal tandem
Three horses trotted tandem toward the farm gate before breakfast.
The dancers stepped tandem across the narrow stage during rehearsal.
Two rescue kayaks drifted tandem through the flooded street.
- single-file
Focuses on lining up one after another, often on foot.
- in line
Broader and more neutral, without the specific tandem nuance.
- side by side
Describes things next to each other rather than front to back.
文法句型
pedal tandem
ride tandem
move tandem
用法筆記
This adverb is much rarer than the phrase 'in tandem'. It is mostly used after verbs such as ride, pedal, move, sit, or place when the image is a front-and-back line.
常見錯誤
tandem — adjective
- tandempositive
- more tandemcomparative
- most tandemsuperlative
1. describing parts or items set in a front-and-back line rather than side by side
describing parts or items set in a front-and-back line rather than side by side
The small canoe has tandem seats, so Lucía sits behind her coach.
collocation: tandem seats
The truck has tandem axles under the cargo bed for extra weight.
collocation: tandem axles
The rescue helicopter uses tandem rotors, one in front, one behind.
The theater installed tandem lights along the narrow backstage stairs.
- in-line
A close technical synonym that also emphasizes front-to-back arrangement.
- back-to-front
More descriptive and less standard as a fixed label.
- side-by-side
Describes items placed next to each other instead of front to back.
文法句型
tandem seats
tandem axles
tandem rotors
用法筆記
Common with technical nouns such as seats, axles, rotors, and wheels. It describes physical arrangement, not teamwork; compare adjective sense 2.
常見錯誤
2. describing people, systems, or processes designed to operate together in a coord
describing people, systems, or processes designed to operate together in a coordinated way
The lab uses tandem pumps to keep the fish tanks clean overnight.
collocation: tandem pumps
The hospital relies on tandem generators during summer power cuts.
collocation: tandem generators
The museum launched tandem tours online and inside the building.
The rescue team ran tandem drills before the storm reached shore.
- coordinated
Highlights planning and timing, but can involve more than two parts.
- paired
Broader and less specific; it only says there are two linked items.
- joint
Often stresses shared responsibility rather than matched operation.
- independent
Describes systems or actions working separately.
文法句型
tandem pumps
tandem generators
tandem program
用法筆記
This sense focuses on coordinated function or timing. If the meaning is simply that things stand one behind another, use adjective sense 1 or the adverb sense instead.