External Parts of Cars and Other Road Vehicles
armor
the American spelling of armour.
armour noun
layers of hard metal that cover a military vehicle to protect it from
attack.
axle noun
a metal bar that connects a pair of wheels on a car or other vehicle.
body noun
the main outer part of a car, not including the engine or wheels, or the
main outer part of a plane, not including the engine, wheels, or wings.
bodywork noun
the painted metal outer part of a car or other vehicle that gives it its
shape.
bonnet noun
British the front part of a car that covers the engine. The
American word is hood.
boot noun
British the covered space at the back of a car, used for
carrying things in. The American word is trunk .
bull bar noun
a frame of strong metal bars around the front of a car or truck, used for
protecting it if there is an accident.
bumper noun
a long thin bar of metal or plastic fixed to the front or back of a
vehicle, designed to protect it if it hits anything.
chassis noun
the frame and wheels of a vehicle.
crumple zone noun
the part of a car that is designed to crumple in a crash so that the
passengers are protected from the force of the crash.
exhaust noun
an exhaust pipe.
exhaust pipe noun
a pipe that carries the gases or steam out of an engine.
fender noun
mainly American a part of a vehicle that
covers or protects the area round a wheel.
filler cap noun
British the small round lid that covers the hole where you put
the petrol in a car or other vehicle.
fin noun
a thin flat part on the back of a vehicle that is used for decoration.
grille noun
the radiator of a motor
vehicle.
hood noun
a cover on a car or pram that
can be pulled up to give protection from the rain or sun.
hood noun
American a car bonnet.
hubcap noun
a metal cover for the central part of a wheel on a car.
license plate noun
American a number plate.
luggage rack noun
American a roof rack on
a car.
mudflap noun
a piece of rubber that hangs behind a wheel of a vehicle and stops dirt
from the road from hitting the vehicle.
mudguard noun
American a mudflap.
muffler noun
American a silencer on
a vehicle.
nearside noun
the side of a car or other vehicle that is closest to the edge of a road on
which you are driving.
number plate noun
British an official sign on the front and back of a motor
vehicle, with numbers and letters on it that show who it belongs to. The
American word is license plate .
the offside noun
British the side of a vehicle that is nearer to the middle of
the road. The side that is nearer the edge of the road is the nearside.
offside noun
British used about parts of a vehicle that are nearest the
middle of the road.
panel noun
a piece of shaped metal that forms part of the body of a vehicle.
petrol tank noun
British the part of a car or other vehicle that you fill with
petrol. The American word is gas tank .
P-plates noun
in Australia, signs that a driver must fasten onto their car for one year
after passing their driving test.
rear end noun
the back part of something, especially a vehicle.
reg noun
British an abbreviation for a vehicle’s registration number , especially the
first or last letter, that shows how old it is.
registration
number noun
British the official set of numbers and letters on a car’s number plate.
registration plate
noun
Australian a number plate.
roll bar noun
a strong metal bar that goes over the top of a vehicle without a roof and
protects the people inside if the vehicle turns over.
roof noun
the top outer part of a vehicle.
roof box noun
a large hard container that fits on the roof of a car.
roof rack noun
British a metal frame fixed on the roof of a car, used for
carrying large objects, bicycles etc. The American word is luggage rack .
running board noun
a step outside the door of a vehicle, especially on an old car.
shaft noun
one of two long bars used for fastening a vehicle to a horse or other
animal.
shell noun
the outer parts of something such as a car or plane.
silencer noun
British an object that reduces the noise from a vehicle’s
engine. The American word is muffler .
sill noun
British the area on the outside of a car that is directly
below the door.
skirt noun
something that covers the lower part of a machine or a vehicle.
spoiler noun
a part on the back of a racing car that
keeps it on the ground at high speeds.
spoiler noun
a similar part fitted on an ordinary car designed to make it look exciting.
stabilizer noun
a part on a vehicle or machine that keeps it steady or in the correct
position.
sunroof noun
a part of a roof of a car that can be opened.
tailboard noun
American a vehicle’s tailgate.
tailgate noun
mainly American a door at the back of a car,
van, or truck.
tailpipe noun
mainly American the pipe at the back of a
motor vehicle that takes waste gases out of the engine.
towbar noun
a metal bar on the back of a vehicle used for towing another vehicle.
track noun
a moving part of a large vehicle such as a tank
on which it moves along the ground.
trunk noun
American the boot of
a car.
wheel noun
a round object that turns round and round to make a car, bicycle, or other
vehicle move.
wheelbase noun
the distance between the front and back wheels of a vehicle.
window noun
a similar frame in a vehicle.
windscreen noun
British the large glass window at the front of a vehicle. The
American word is windshield.
windscreen wiper noun
British a long thin tool that moves across a vehicle’s
windscreen to wipe the rain off it.
windshield noun
American a windscreen.
wing noun
British the part of a car that covers the wheel. The usual
American word is fender ..
wing mirror noun
British a small mirror on each side of a vehicle. The American
word is sideview mirror ..
wiper noun
a windscreen
wiper.
