Meaning & use
articulated lorry
Last updated
UK/ɑːˌtɪkjuleɪtɪd ˈlɒri/
US/ɑːrˌtɪkjəleɪtɪd ˈlɔːri/
Meaning
nouncountableBritish
A large truck made of two connected parts, a cab at the front and a long trailer behind, joined so that the vehicle can turn easily.
Grammar: Often shortened in speech: an artic.
Patterns
- an articulated lorry carrying something
An articulated lorry blocked the narrow road.
The articulated lorry delivered furniture to the store.
He drives an articulated lorry across Europe.
Word forms
| plural | articulated lorries |
|---|
Common combinations
- drive an articulated lorry
- She learned to drive an articulated lorry.
- an articulated lorry driver
- An articulated lorry driver stopped to help.
- an articulated lorry overturned
- An articulated lorry overturned on the motorway.
- park an articulated lorry
- It is hard to park an articulated lorry in town.
Synonyms and how they differ
- artic
- Artic is the informal short form used in conversation.
- semi-trailer
- Semi-trailer is the American term and sometimes names only the trailer part.
- tractor-trailer
- Tractor-trailer is American and describes the same two-part design.
- HGV
- HGV means any heavy goods vehicle, including rigid lorries, so it is broader.
Word family
- lorry noun
- a British word for a truck
- articulate verb
- to join with a flexible link, or to speak clearly
- articulation noun
- a joint or a way of speaking
Commonly confused: articulated lorry or rigid lorry?
articulated lorry vs rigid lorry
A rigid lorry is one solid vehicle with no hinged trailer.
Practice
What makes a lorry articulated?
Choose one answer.
Articulated means jointed. The joint lets the cab and trailer pivot. Wheel count or cooling does not matter.
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