Bipedal

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˌbaɪˈpiːdəl/

Definitions

1. Relating to a form of movement that utilizes two lower limbs for traversal
2. Pertaining to creatures that use two legs for movement
3. Describing an organism that stands or walks with both feet

Etymology: "Bipedal" is a plain formation: "biped," a word built from Latin "bi-" meaning "two" and "ped-" from Latin "pes," meaning "foot," with the adjective ending "-al" added on top. The "-al" suffix, inherited through Latin "-ālis" and Old French, was attached in English to form adjectives meaning "relating to" the base. The word's own history is therefore a matter of combining familiar parts rather than a story of drift. The "bi-" and "ped-" elements are the same ones found in "bicycle" and "pedestrian," which explains why the word's meaning is easy to read at a glance: it describes anything that walks or moves on two feet, whether a human, a bird, or a robot.

Synonyms: two-legged, bipod

Antonyms: quadrupedal