four-wheel drive

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four-wheel drive

(fôr′wēl′, -hwēl′)

n. Abbr. 4WD

An automotive drive system in which mechanical power is transmitted from the drive shaft to all four wheels.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

four-wheel drive

(Automotive Engineering) a system used in motor vehicles in which all four wheels are connected to the source of power

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

four′-wheel` drive′

a drive system in which engine power is transmitted to all four wheels of a vehicle for improved traction.

[1925–30]

four′-wheel`-drive′, adj.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun	1.	four-wheel drive - a motor vehicle with a four-wheel drive transmission system 4WD automotive vehicle, motor vehicle - a self-propelled wheeled vehicle that does not run on rails
	2.	four-wheel drive - a transmission that provides power directly to all four wheels of a motor vehicle 4WD transmission system, transmission - the gears that transmit power from an automobile engine via the driveshaft to the live axle

Translations

four-wheel drive

[ˌfɔːwiːlˈdraɪv] N (= system) → tracción f de cuatro por cuatro, tracción f a las cuatro ruedas; (= car) → todoterreno m inv

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

four-wheel drive

[ˈfɔːˌwiːlˈdraɪv] n (Aut) with four-wheel drive → con quattro ruote motrici

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

four-wheel drive

→ الدَفْع ُ الرُبَاعِيّ pohon na čtyři kola firhjulstrækker Vierradantrieb κίνηση στους τέσσερις τροχούς tracción en las cuatro ruedas nelipyöräveto quatre-quatre pogon na sva četiri kotača quattro ruote motrici 四輪駆動 사륜구동 vierwielaandrijving firehjulstrekker napęd czterokołowy tração às quatro rodas, tração nas quatro rodas полный привод fyrhjulsdrift การขับทั้งสี่ล้อ dört çekerli xe bốn bánh 四轮驱动

Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

References in periodicals archive ?

The Antara operates as a normal front-wheel drive car in everyday use but automatically switches to four-wheel drive when the car's ESP electronics sense that the extra traction is needed.

Arriving in July

CLASS ACT: The relatively compact Terios with its comfortable interior and chunky looks fills a useful niche for those with a small wallet looking for style and four-wheel drive underpinnings; ONE TO WATCH: The relatively small exterior dimensions of Daihatsu's YRV hide a capacious cabin offering almost family hatchback sized accommodation in a supermini-sized packageREAL SPORT: The Sirion Rally 4 has a new bonnet, restyled bumper, lights and grille for 2003 to make it even more striking than before

DRIVETIME: MOTORING: Daihatsu is streets ahead; NEW REG SPECIAL: CUORE AND SIRION OFFER SMALL CAR BUYERS SOMETHING A LITTLE OUT OF THE ORDINARY

Originally a traditional car dealer, the business branched out into four-wheel drives before opting to specialise.

Biggest 4x4 dealership forced to cease trading; in association with RBS

BMW AG (Xetra: BMW), a Germany-based automaker, is equipping a four-wheel drive system for the new 2012 M5.

-BMW AG to equip 2012 M5 with four-wheel drive system

From a shortlist of 44 top four-wheel drives, the Range Rover stood out as being the most innovative, stylish and capable 4x4 on sale today.

Motoring: Range Rover is tops

I managed to keep a grip and defy the weather because I had a fabulous four-wheel drive Audi.

Driven: AUDI Allroad Quattro 2.5TDi

But unlike the Santa Fe, the Terracan is an out-and-out off-road car with a body-on-frame construction and full- time four-wheel drive with low-ratio box.

DRIVETIME: MOTORING: Rugged Terracan hits UK

Strycek stated that unlike the four-wheel drive Sigma GXR, the model is based on the Astra GTC and could not accommodate the extra mechanics needed for four-wheel drive.

-Vauxhall not to launch four-wheel drive version of Astra VXR

There are also plenty of choices, with either two or four doors and rear -or four-wheel drive. The 1993 will boast standard anti-lock brakes to improve the safety quotient.

Bold innovations

The four-wheel drive car will make new tracks with ease, being able to stop and start at will on the worst of surfaces, giving huge advantages and safety margins allowing the driver to overtake and smile at lesser mortals in the two-wheel drive world.

SAFETY FIRST

The car has an intelligent four-wheel drive system that monitors electronic, hydraulic and mechanical information and reacts instantly to road grip.

New estate from Skoda

ABS with electronic brake force distribution complements the full-time four-wheel drive, and the 16-valve 1.8 litre engine produces a maximum speed of 96 mph.