External parts of cars and other road vehicles
armor
noun
layers of hard metal that cover a military vehicle to protect it from attack
armour
the British spelling of armor
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
the hood of a car
boot
noun
the trunk of a car
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 attached 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
exhaust
noun
an exhaust pipe
exhaust pipe
noun
a pipe that carries the gases or steam out of an engine
fender
noun
a part of a vehicle that covers or protects the area around a wheel
fin
noun
a thin flat part on the back of a vehicle that is used for decoration
gas cap
noun
the cover that fits on the hole where you put the gas in your car
gas tank
noun
the container inside a car or other vehicle that holds the gas that it uses in order to run
grille
noun
the radiator of a motor vehicle
hood
noun
a cover on a baby carriage that can be pulled up to give protection from the rain or sun
hood
noun
the part of a car that covers the engine and that can be raised. The British word is bonnet
hubcap
noun
a metal cover for the central part of a wheel on a car
license plate
noun
the group of letters and numbers on the back and sometimes the front of a car, that shows its official number and the state where it was licensed. The British word is number plate.
luggage rack
noun
a metal frame fixed on the roof of a car, used for carrying large objects, bicycles etc. the British word is roof rack
mudflap
noun
a mudguard on a vehicle
mudguard
noun
a piece of metal, plastic, or rubber over or behind a wheel of a vehicle that stops dirt from the road from hitting the vehicle
muffler
noun
a piece of equipment attached to a vehicle to make the sound of the engine quieter. The British word is silencer.
number plate
noun
a license plate
the offside
noun
the side of a vehicle that is nearer to the middle of the road
panel
noun
a piece of shaped metal that forms part of the body of a vehicle
petrol tank
noun
the gas tank of a car
P-plates
noun
in Australia, signs that a driver must fasten onto their car for one year after they get their driver’s license
rear end
noun
the back part of something, especially a vehicle
registration number
noun
the group of letters and numbers shown on the license plate of a car
registration plate
noun
a license 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
a luggage rack on a car
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 airplane
sideview mirror
noun
a mirror on the side of a car
silencer
noun
a muffler on a vehicle
sill
noun
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 race car that keeps it on the ground at high speeds
spoiler
noun
a similar part put 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
a vehicle’s tailgate
tailgate
noun
a door at the back of a van or truck that opens downward
tailpipe
noun
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
the covered space at the back of a car, used for carrying things in. The British word is boot.
wheel
noun
a round object that turns around and around 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
a windshield
windscreen wiper
noun
a windshield wiper
windshield
noun
the large glass window at the front of a vehicle. The British word is windscreen.
windshield wiper
noun
a long thin piece of equipment that moves across a vehicle’s windshield in order to wipe the rain off it
wing
noun
a fender on a car
wing mirror
noun
a sideview mirror
wiper
noun
a windshield wiper
