Shuttle

/ˈʃʌtəl/

Meaning & Definition

noun
A vehicle or device designed to travel back and forth between two locations.
The hotel offers a free shuttle to and from the airport.
A device used in weaving to carry the thread across the warp.
The weaver skillfully operated the shuttle to create intricate patterns.
A person or thing that shuttles.
The shuttle between the two campuses runs every half hour.
verb
To move back and forth between two places.
During the busy season, the driver shuttles guests between the main lodge and the overflow parking lot.
To transport with a shuttle.
They shuttled the materials to the construction site daily.

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English 'scytel', related to 'shut'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

shuttle diplomacy
The act of mediating or negotiating between two parties by traveling back and forth between them.
shuttle service
A service providing transportation between two points.
space shuttle
A reusable spacecraft designed for traveling to space.

Related Words

transit
The act of passing or carrying through.
commuter
A person who travels regularly to and from a place, especially to work.
transportation
The action of transporting someone or something.

Slang Meanings

To move quickly between places.
I need to shuttle over to the other side of town before the meeting.
To go back and forth frequently.
Stop shuttling between jobs and just pick one!