A vehicle is a machine to move people and things. A vehicle is not alive. A horse can move people and things, but it is an animal, not a machine or a vehicle.

The word vehicle is borrowed from French and Latin. French véhicule, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin vehiculum "medium, agent of transmission," going back to Latin, "wheeled vehicle, means of transport," from vehere "to carry, convey.

Some vehicles move on land. Most land vehicles have wheels. Examples of land vehicles are bicycles, cars, motorcycles, and trains.

Land vehicles that are powered by an engine or motor are called motor vehicles.

Some land vehicles, like tanks and snowmobiles, have tracks. These tracks look and work like conveyor belts.

Some vehicles move on, or in, the water. Examples are boats, ships, and submarines.

Vehicles that move in the sky are called aircraft. Examples are aeroplanes and balloons.

Some vehicles, like the Space Shuttle, can even leave the Earth's orbit and go to outer space.

Vehicles can be propelled by various sources of energy.

• Human muscles. Examples are bicycles and skateboards.
• Engines. Examples are automobiles, ships, and aeroplanes.
• Electricity. Examples are many passenger trains.
• Animals. Examples are carts and chariots.
• Wind. Examples are sailboats and iceboats.

Some vehicles have no propulsion power. Examples are gliders, balloons and even fixed tower cranes.