noun / adjective
biped
BYE-ped/ˈbaɪped/
An animal that walks on two feet, or having this way of walking.
The ostrich is a large biped that runs swiftly.
Etymology
The pieces literally describe a “two-footed” creature. Latin also used the combined word as a plural noun for people; English applies it to animals that walk on two feet.
In context
one of the biped family who have essayed to make the world happier and brighter
More examples
- Humans normally move as bipeds.
- The fossil suggests that the dinosaur was a biped.
- The exhibit compares biped movement with walking on four limbs.
Forms
biped · bipeds
bipedal adjective — Walking or standing on two feet.
Similar words
- quadruped
- An animal that walks on four feet.
- bipedal
- The more usual adjective describing movement on two feet.