External parts of cars and other road vehicles

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.

offside (noun)

British used about parts of a vehicle that are nearest the middle of the road

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

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

wheelbase (noun)

the distance between the front and back wheels of a vehicle

wheels (noun)

a round object that turns round and round to make a car, bicycle, or other vehicle move

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

Synonyms and antonyms of External parts of cars and other road vehicles in British Thesaurus