Sekirov Dictionary

tandem

/ˈtændəm/

noun 7
adjective 2
adverb 2
verb 1
forms 3

noun[before a noun]7

•
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.
- [H]e was a man whose head was at this time entirely full of gigs, and tandems, and unicorns: business was his aversion; pleasure was his business. — 1804
•
(figurative) A group of two or more machines, people, etc., working together; hence (uncountable), close collaboration.
- Stubb's whale had been killed some distance from the ship. It was a calm; so, forming a tandem of three boats, we commenced the slow business of towing the trophy to the Pequod. — 1851
(figurative) 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.
Two draught animals (generally draught horses) harnessed one behind the other.
•
A thing with two components arranged one behind the other.
- If you want a canoe that can seat both of you comfortably, you’ll need a tandem.
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.
- If an interstitial implant is placed in a patient with an intact uterus, a tandem should be inserted and loaded with cesium 137 or iridium 192. — 2007

adjective[before a noun]2

With two components arranged one behind the other.
•
(figurative) Working together collaboratively; collaborative, cooperative.
- Their skillful tandem work made the project quick and successful.

adverb[before a noun]2

•
One behind the other; in single file.
- The horses were harnessed tandem.
- to ride tandem on a bicycle built for two
(figurative) In close collaboration; collaboratively, cooperatively.

verb[before a noun]1

•
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’)”)
- [O]ur dog-cart having come to hand, from the hilliness of the road, we tandemed the ten miles due west, along the southern shore of Clew Bay. — 1861

forms

tandemed · tandeming · tandems

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