Tandem

Quick meaning: Tandem is a noun meaning Two draught animals (generally draught horses) harnessed one behind the other.

Meaning

Two draught animals (generally draught horses) harnessed one behind the other.

More Meanings

1. A thing with two components arranged one behind the other.
2. A hollow metal tube containing radioactive material, inserted through the vagina into the uterus to treat gynecological cancer.
3. A group of two or more machines, people, etc., working together; hence (uncountable), close collaboration.
4. One behind the other; in single file.
5. (figurative) In close collaboration; collaboratively, cooperatively.
6. (countable) A carriage pulled by two or more draught animals (generally draught horses) harnessed one behind the other, both providing pulling power but only the animal in front being able to steer.
7. A method of language learning based on mutual exchange, where ideally each learner is a native speaker in the language the other person wants to learn.

Example Sentences

If you want a canoe that can seat both of you comfortably, you’ll need a tandem.

If an interstitial implant is placed in a patient with an intact uterus, a tandem should be inserted and loaded with cesium 137 or iridium 192.

[H]e was a man whose head was at this time entirely full of gigs, and tandems, and unicorns: business was his aversion; pleasure was his business.

Stubb's whale had been killed some distance from the ship. It was a calm; so, forming a tandem of three boats, we commenced the slow business of towing the trophy to the Pequod.

Word Forms

• tandems
• tandeming
• tandemed

Synonyms for tandem

Depending on context, synonyms include tandemize.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include pace, transit, turn, set, spectrometry, mix.

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