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Glite Dictionary
racecar

racecar

15 2.8
A very fast car built to race on tracks
  • noun
  • /ˈreɪsˌkɑr/
: coche de carreras
  • At the track, the sound of the racecar's engine echoed as it sped down the straightaway.
  • racecar driver
  • professional racecar

Examples

  • The engineer designed a new racecar that could reach speeds over 200 miles per hour.

  • Are you ready to become a real racecar driver?

    Speed Racer (2008)

  • Which competition will this particular racecar be entering?

    Academic text (2008)

  • When I got to Bobby's house, he was operating the controls of his new racecar.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Upon arrival in Masonville, each racecar will compete in the George Mason Grand Prix.

    Academic text (2008)

  • Caterham Cars has launched the Superlight R600, the fastest and most extreme Seven racecar to date.

    Blog text (18)

  • During the championship, each racecar showcased its unique features and performance on the circuit.

Synonyms

race car
vsracecar
52 2.7

A very fast car built to compete in events on a track

is focused on high speed driving specifically on tracks and circuits
stock car
vsracecar
  • Jargon
13 3.9

A racing car made from a regular car and changed for speed and safety

is purpose-built from scratch for high speed track or circuit competition
racer
vsracecar
12 2.8

A fast car built specially to compete on a track

is specifically built for high speed performance on tracks and circuits
dragster
vsracecar
2 5.2

A very fast car made to race on a straight track

focuses on high speed around tracks and circuits rather than straight sprints
racing car
vsracecar
1 2.8

A car built to go very fast on tracks in sports competitions

emphasizes construction for fast track or circuit racing rather than general handling

How Fast

racecar
15 2.8
sports car
55 2.8
sedan
  • US
3 2.4

Surface Forms

racecar singular
racecars plural

Morphology

racecar = race + car (transparent) = race + car

The meaning is a straightforward combination of 'race' + 'car' (a car for racing), which a learner knowing both components can easily infer.

Etymology

Racecar starts with race ('a contest of speed') and ends with car ('vehicle'), so it literally means a vehicle made for racing. That's why a racecar is built to go very fast on a track.