B2 verb #20,000 よく出る 3分で読める

biped

A biped is an animal or creature that walks on two legs.

あなたのレベルに合った解説:

A biped is a living thing that walks on two legs. You are a biped. A chicken is a biped. A dog is not a biped because it has four legs. It is a simple way to talk about how animals move.

When we talk about animals, we use the word biped to describe those that walk on two feet. Humans are the most famous example. Scientists use this word to study how animals evolved over a long time.

The word biped is used to classify animals based on their movement. In biology, it helps distinguish between species that use two legs and those that use four, which are called quadrupeds. It is a formal term often found in textbooks.

Beyond just biology, biped is used in fields like robotics to describe machines designed to walk like humans. Using this term adds a level of scientific precision to your writing. It is a sophisticated alternative to saying 'two-legged animal.'

In academic discourse, biped is a foundational term for discussing hominid evolution. It allows researchers to discuss bipedalism as a specific evolutionary adaptation. The term is essential for distinguishing between obligate bipeds and facultative bipeds in comparative anatomy.

The term biped carries significant weight in philosophical and anthropological history, notably referencing Plato's famous (and contested) definition of man as a 'featherless biped.' Its usage reflects a deep categorization of the natural world, transitioning from simple descriptive biology to complex discussions on the biomechanics of movement and the history of human development.

30秒でわかる単語

  • Biped means a two-legged creature.
  • It comes from Latin roots.
  • It is mostly used in science.
  • The adjective form is bipedal.

Have you ever thought about how you walk? You are a biped! This word comes from the Latin roots 'bi' (meaning two) and 'ped' (meaning foot).

When we call something a biped, we are simply describing its movement. It is a very useful term in science when comparing how different species get around. While humans and birds are classic examples, the term is strictly about the number of legs used for walking.

You won't hear this word every day in casual conversation, but it pops up all the time in documentaries or science class. It is a precise way to describe anatomy without needing a long, complicated sentence.

The word biped is a perfect example of how Latin influences English. It is derived from the Latin word bipes, which combines bis (twice) and pes (foot).

It entered the English language in the early 17th century. Back then, scholars needed a way to categorize the animal kingdom more accurately. By labeling creatures as bipedal or quadrupedal, they could organize nature into logical groups.

Interestingly, the word has remained quite stable in its meaning over the last four hundred years. It is a classic 'learned' word that hasn't changed much because its roots are so clear and functional for scientific classification.

You will mostly see biped used in formal or academic contexts. It is common in biology, anthropology, and even robotics when talking about 'bipedal robots.'

In casual conversation, people usually just say 'two-legged.' If you say 'Look at that biped!' while pointing at a friend, it will definitely sound a bit funny or overly formal. It is best reserved for when you are discussing science or evolutionary history.

Common collocations include obligate biped, which means an animal that must walk on two legs, and bipedal locomotion, which is the scientific way of saying 'walking on two legs.'

While there are no standard 'idioms' using the word biped, it is often used in metaphors. Here are some ways it appears in creative writing:

  • The featherless biped: An ancient philosophical description of humans.
  • Bipedal movement: Used to describe the evolution of early ancestors.
  • Bipedal nature: Referring to the inherent traits of humans.
  • Technological biped: Used in science fiction to describe robots.
  • The bipedal advantage: Discussing why walking on two legs was helpful for survival.

Biped is a noun. Its plural form is bipeds. You can also use the adjective form, bipedal, which is actually more common in scientific writing.

The IPA for biped is /ˈbaɪ.pɛd/. The stress is on the first syllable. It rhymes with words like 'striped' (if pronounced carefully) or 'sniped'.

When using it, you usually treat it as a countable noun. For example: 'Humans are the only surviving bipeds in their genus.' Always remember to use the correct article, such as 'a biped' or 'the biped.'

豆知識

It was used in early science to classify animals.

発音ガイド

UK /ˈbaɪ.pɛd/
US /ˈbaɪ.pɛd/
韻が合う語
striped sniped typed wiped piped
よくある間違い
  • Pronouncing 'bi' as 'bee'.
  • Forgetting the 'd' at the end.
  • Stressing the second syllable.

難易度

読解 2/5

Easy to read

ライティング 3/5

Formal usage

スピーキング 3/5

Scientific context

リスニング 2/5

Clear pronunciation

次に学ぶべきこと

前提知識

leg walk animal

次に学ぶ

bipedalism quadruped locomotion

上級

hominid biomechanics

知っておくべき文法

Noun vs Adjective

Biped is a noun, bipedal is an adjective.

Pluralization

Biped becomes bipeds.

Prefixes

Bi- means two.

レベル別の例文

1

A human is a biped.

human = person

Subject + verb + noun

2

The bird is a biped.

bird = animal with wings

The + noun

3

I am a biped.

I = me

Pronoun + verb

4

Is a cat a biped?

cat = animal

Question form

5

No, it has four legs.

four legs

Negative answer

6

Bipeds walk on two feet.

walk = move

Plural noun

7

Look at the biped.

Look = see

Imperative

8

It is a biped.

it = the animal

Simple sentence

1

The kangaroo is a biped.

2

Scientists study how a biped moves.

3

Are all birds bipeds?

4

Humans are the most common biped.

5

The robot is a biped.

6

A biped needs balance to walk.

7

Some dinosaurs were bipeds.

8

I learned about the biped in class.

1

The evolution of the biped is fascinating.

2

Most birds are considered bipeds.

3

The robot was designed as a biped.

4

Bipedal movement is efficient for long distances.

5

He wrote a paper about the biped.

6

Is a penguin a biped?

7

The study focuses on bipedal species.

8

Being a biped has many advantages.

1

The transition to a bipedal lifestyle changed human history.

2

Engineers are working on a new bipedal robot.

3

The fossil shows the skeleton of a biped.

4

Bipedalism is a key trait of our ancestors.

5

She described the creature as a biped.

6

The museum has an exhibit on bipedal evolution.

7

It is rare to see such a large biped.

8

The research team analyzed the bipedal gait.

1

The obligate biped is rare in the animal kingdom.

2

Plato famously defined man as a featherless biped.

3

The biomechanics of a biped are complex.

4

Bipedalism allowed for the development of tool use.

5

The study examines the shift from quadrupedal to bipedal movement.

6

He is a scholar of bipedal evolution.

7

The robot mimics the movement of a natural biped.

8

The discovery of the fossil changed our understanding of the biped.

1

The philosophical implications of being a biped are vast.

2

The fossil record provides evidence for the emergence of the biped.

3

The anatomical structure of a biped requires a specific pelvic shape.

4

Evolutionary biologists debate the origins of the biped.

5

The bipedal gait is a hallmark of human physiology.

6

She wrote a monograph on the history of the biped.

7

The creature is a classic example of a facultative biped.

8

The study of the biped is central to anthropology.

類義語

two-footed animal hominid upright walker bipedal creature humanoid

反対語

quadruped multiped tetrapod

よく使う組み合わせ

bipedal locomotion
obligate biped
bipedal robot
evolution of the biped
bipedal gait
facultative biped
bipedal species
study of bipeds
bipedal movement
ancestral biped

慣用句と表現

"featherless biped"

A classic philosophical definition of a human.

Plato was teased for his definition of a featherless biped.

literary

"bipedal advantage"

The benefits of walking on two legs.

The bipedal advantage helped them hunt.

formal

"bipedal stride"

The way a two-legged creature walks.

The robot has a smooth bipedal stride.

neutral

"bipedal nature"

The inherent quality of being a biped.

It is in our bipedal nature to run.

formal

"bipedal stance"

Standing on two legs.

The bear took a bipedal stance.

neutral

間違えやすい

biped vs bipod

Similar sound

Bipod is for equipment, biped is for life.

Use a bipod for your camera.

biped vs quadruped

Both relate to legs

Quadruped means four legs.

A horse is a quadruped.

biped vs bipedal

Same root

Bipedal is an adjective.

The bipedal gait is fast.

biped vs tripod

Similar suffix

Tripod has three legs.

The camera is on a tripod.

文型パターン

A1

Subject + is a biped

The penguin is a biped.

A2

The biped + verb

The biped walks well.

B1

Study of the biped

The study of the biped is key.

B2

Bipedal + noun

Bipedal movement is common.

C1

As a biped, + clause

As a biped, he walks upright.

語族

名詞

bipedalism The state of being a biped.

形容詞

bipedal Using two legs for walking.

関連

quadruped opposite

使い方

frequency

4/10

よくある間違い
  • Calling a dog a biped. Call it a quadruped.

    Dogs have four legs.

  • Using 'biped' as an adjective. Use 'bipedal'.

    Biped is a noun; bipedal is the adjective.

  • Confusing biped with bipod. Biped is for living things; bipod is for stands.

    Bipods are for cameras or guns.

  • Thinking all birds are bipeds. Most are, but some are not.

    It is a general rule, but biology has exceptions.

  • Using biped in casual chat. Use 'two-legged'.

    Biped sounds too scientific.

ヒント

💡

Memory Palace

Imagine a two-footed bird in your palace.

💡

Science context

Use it in biology class.

🌍

Plato

Remember Plato's definition.

💡

Noun vs Adj

Biped=noun, Bipedal=adj.

💡

Clear D

Don't drop the D at the end.

💡

Don't say 'bipedal' as a noun

It is an adjective.

💡

Latin roots

Bi means two.

💡

Flashcards

Use pictures of birds.

💡

Robotics

Read about bipedal robots.

💡

Stress

Stress the first syllable.

暗記しよう

記憶術

BI (two) + PED (foot) = Two feet.

視覚的連想

A person walking on two legs.

Word Web

legs walking biology evolution

チャレンジ

Count how many bipeds you see today.

語源

Latin

元の意味: Two-footed

文化的な背景

None, it is a neutral scientific term.

Used primarily in educational and scientific settings.

Plato's definition of man Science fiction robots

実生活で練習する

実際の使用場面

Biology class

  • bipedal locomotion
  • evolutionary trait
  • bipedal species

Robotics

  • bipedal robot
  • walking mechanism
  • balance control

Anthropology

  • hominid evolution
  • upright posture
  • bipedal ancestors

General science

  • biped vs quadruped
  • animal classification
  • locomotion types

会話のきっかけ

"Do you think bipedalism was the most important step for humans?"

"Can you name three bipeds besides humans?"

"How does a bipedal robot stay balanced?"

"Why do you think some animals evolved to be bipeds?"

"Is it hard for a biped to run on uneven ground?"

日記のテーマ

Describe what life would be like if humans were quadrupeds.

Write about the evolution of bipedalism.

Explain the difference between a biped and a quadruped.

Reflect on why walking on two legs is efficient.

よくある質問

8 問

Yes, birds walk on two legs.

Quadruped.

Yes, if it has two legs.

No, it is a noun. Bipedal is the adjective.

Latin.

No, it is mostly formal.

No, that would be incorrect.

No, birds are too.

自分をテスト

fill blank A1

A human is a ___.

正解! おしい! 正解: biped

Humans walk on two legs.

multiple choice A2

What does biped mean?

正解! おしい! 正解: Two legs

Bi means two.

true false B1

A dog is a biped.

正解! おしい! 正解: 間違い

Dogs are quadrupeds.

match pairs B1

Word

意味

全て一致しました!

Classification by legs.

sentence order B2

下の単語をタップして文を組み立てよう
正解! おしい! 正解:

Subject-verb-object.

スコア: /5

関連コンテンツ

Animalsの関連語

predators

B1

他の動物を捕まえて食べる動物のこと。自然のバランスを保つのに大切です。

nit

B2

シラミの卵のことだよ。転じて、どうでもいい細かいことを指摘してばかりいる面倒な人を指すこともあるんだ。

brindled

B2

Describes an animal, such as a dog or cow, having a coat color that is brownish or tawny with streaks or spots of a darker color. It refers specifically to a subtle striped or flecked pattern rather than bold spots.

blackbird

B2

黒い羽と黄色いクチバシが特徴の鳥で、とてもきれいな声でさえずることで有名だよ。

budgie

B2

To move or shift slightly, or to change one's opinion or position on an issue, especially when under pressure or persuasion. It is frequently used in negative contexts to emphasize that something is physically stuck or that a person is being stubborn.

bullock

B2

去勢された若い雄牛で、荷を引くための家畜として使われることがあります。

instinct

B2

学習なしに自然に起こる、行動や判断の根源となる強い衝動のこと。

feeding

B1

人や動物に食べ物を与えること。また、システムや機械にデータや材料を供給するプロセスを指すこともあるよ。

winged

B1

翼を持っていて、それを使って飛ぶことができる状態。

mite

B1

ダニは、ほこりの中などにいるとても小さな生き物です。かゆみの原因になったり、植物や動物に寄生したりします。

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