der Lenker, –
driver
Teil eines Fahrrads oder Motorrads, das man mit den Händen hält, um die Richtung zu ändern.
Definition & meaning
Lenker has several related meanings:
- A steering device, especially the handlebar of a bicycle or motorcycle. Depending on context, it can also refer more generally to a vehicle’s steering mechanism.
- A driver or operator of a vehicle. This use is especially common in Austrian and formal or legal contexts.
- A person who directs or guides something, such as an organization or an activity.
The exact meaning depends on context: it may refer to the person steering or to the device used to steer.
Grammar & Word origin
Lenker is a masculine noun: der Lenker. Its plural is die Lenker.
It comes from the verb lenken , meaning “to steer,” “to direct,” or “to guide.” The ending -er can form a noun for a person who performs an action, or sometimes for a device associated with that action.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Fahrer means “driver.” It usually refers specifically to someone driving a vehicle, while Lenker can also mean the steering device and may emphasize the act or responsibility of steering.
- Steuer can mean a steering mechanism, particularly in certain kinds of vehicles or machinery. It is not the usual word for a bicycle’s handlebars.
- Beifahrer , “passenger,” can contrast with Lenker when Lenker means the person driving. It is not a direct antonym, and there is no general antonym for the steering-device meaning.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Die Lenkerin parkte vorsichtig am Straßenrand.noun
The driver parked carefully at the side of the road.
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