Shuttle
'ʃʌtl
Definitions
2 meaningsA vehicle or device that moves back and forth repeatedly between two places.
'ʃʌtl
A vehicle or device that travels back and forth.
We took the shuttle from the parking lot to the stadium.
💡 Simply: Imagine a bus or a train that goes back and forth to the airport or to a specific destination. That's a shuttle! It's all about going and coming back.
👶 For kids: A shuttle is like a bus or train that goes back and forth to the same places.
More Examples
The space shuttle program was a major achievement in space exploration.
The textile factory used a shuttle to weave the fabric.
How It's Used
"The airport shuttle provides a convenient way to get to the terminals."
"The space shuttle was used for crewed orbital spaceflights."
"The shuttle carries the weft thread back and forth on a loom."
To transport someone or something frequently and repeatedly between two places.
'ʃʌtl
To transport someone or something back and forth.
The company shuttled us from the airport to the conference hotel.
💡 Simply: Think of a bus driver taking people between the airport and the hotel several times. That's shuttling: taking someone or something back and forth.
👶 For kids: To shuttle means to take someone or something back and forth over and over again.
More Examples
Volunteers shuttled food and supplies to the flood victims.
During the festival, buses will shuttle people from the parking lot to the event.
How It's Used
"The company shuttles employees between the office and the airport."
"The hotel shuttles guests to and from local attractions."
Idioms & expressions
shuttle diplomacy
Negotiation between two parties facilitated by a third party who travels between them.
"The mediator engaged in shuttle diplomacy to resolve the conflict."
From Middle English *shutle*, from Old English *scytel* ('dart, arrow'), related to *sceotan* ('to shoot'). The sense of a vehicle traveling back and forth developed from the weaving tool's back-and-forth motion.
The word 'shuttle' has been used since the 14th century, evolving from its original meaning related to weaving to the more general sense of something moving back and forth.
Memory tip
Think of a bus that goes back and forth from a place. The 'shuttle' moves between the origin and destination.
Word Origin
"dart, arrow"