tandem

Plural: tandems

Noun

• an arrangement of two or more objects or persons one behind another
• a bicycle with two sets of pedals and two seats
• A carriage pulled by two or more draught animals (generally draught horses) harnessed one behind the other, both providing pulling power but only the animal in front being able to steer.
• Two draught animals (generally draught horses) harnessed one behind the other.
• A thing with two components arranged one behind the other.
• A thing with two components arranged one behind the other.
• Ellipsis of tandem bicycle (“a bicycle or tricycle in which two people sit one behind the other, both able to pedal but only the person in front being able to steer”).
• A hollow metal tube containing radioactive material, inserted through the vagina into the uterus to treat gynecological cancer.
• A group of two or more machines, people, etc., working together; hence (uncountable), close collaboration.
• A method of language learning based on mutual exchange, where ideally each learner is a native speaker in the language the other person wants to learn.
• pl. -S a bicycle built for two

Adverb

• one behind the other
  • "ride tandem on a bicycle built for two"
  • "riding horses down the path in tandem"

Adv

• One behind the other; in single file.
• In close collaboration; collaboratively, cooperatively.

Adj

• With two components arranged one behind the other.
• Working together collaboratively; collaborative, cooperative.

Verb

• Synonym of tandemize (“(transitive) to harness or drive (two draught animals, generally draught horses) one behind the other; to set up (two or more things, such as pieces or equipment) to work in tandem or together; (intransitive) to drive a tandem (‘carriage pulled by two or more draught animals (generally draught horses) harnessed one behind the other’)”)

Examples

• "If you want a canoe that can seat both of you comfortably, you’ll need a tandem."
• "tandem canoe    tandem engine"
• "The horses were harnessed tandem."
• "Their skillful tandem work made the project quick and successful."
• "to ride tandem on a bicycle built for two"

Synonyms

bicycle-built-for-two, in tandem, tandem bicycle, tandemize

Anagrams of tandem