tandem

Meaning

Noun

1. 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.
2. Two draught animals (generally draught horses) harnessed one behind the other.
3. A thing with two components arranged one behind the other.
4. A thing with two components arranged one behind the other.
5. A hollow metal tube containing radioactive material, inserted through the vagina into the uterus to treat gynecological cancer.
6. A group of two or more machines, people, etc., working together; hence (uncountable), close collaboration.
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.

Adv

1. One behind the other; in single file.
2. In close collaboration; collaboratively, cooperatively.

Adj

1. With two components arranged one behind the other.
2. Working together collaboratively; collaborative, cooperative.

Verb

Synonym of tandemize (“(transitive) to harness or drive (two draught animals, generally draught horses) one behind the other; to set up (two or more things, such as pieces or equipment) to work in tandem or together; (intransitive) to drive a tandem (‘carriage pulled by two or more draught animals (generally draught horses) harnessed one behind the other’)”)

Synonyms

tandem bicycle

bicycle-built-for-two

in single file

twin

in tandem

in file

intandem

series connected

serial

cascade connected

Hyphenated as

tan‧dem

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈtændəm/

Etymology

PIE word
*téh₂m
The noun is borrowed from Latin tandem (“of time: at last, at length, finally”), applied humorously in English to two horses harnessed “at length” (that is, in a single line) instead of side-by-side. Tandem is derived from tam (“so, to such an extent”) + -dem (demonstrative suffix).
The adjective, adverb, and verb are derived from the noun.