cable
16 synonyms and 0 antonyms for cable, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A thick, strong rope or bundle of wires used to pull, support, or carry electricity or signals.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use cable
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Middle English cable, via Old Northern French, ultimately from Latin capere ("to take, seize") — the original sense was a rope strong enough to "seize" and hold something fast.
Full origin of cable →Frequently asked questions
What does “cable” mean?
The word “cable” means a thick, strong rope or bundle of wires used to pull, support, or carry electricity or signals. In plain terms, a strong wire or rope, or the act of sending a message over one.
How do you pronounce “cable”?
“Cable” is pronounced KAY-buhl (/ˈkeɪ.bəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “cable” in a sentence?
Here is “cable” used in a sentence: “The bridge is held up by massive steel cables.”
What part of speech is “cable”?
Depending on how it is used, “cable” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “cable” come from?
The word “cable” comes from Latin. From Middle English cable, via Old Northern French, ultimately from Latin capere ("to take, seize") — the original sense was a rope strong enough to "seize" and hold something fast.
Is “cable” a common word?
“Cable” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “cable” have?
“Cable” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a thick, strong rope or bundle of wires used to pull, support, or carry electricity or signals.
What is the difference between a cable and a wire?
A wire is a single strand of metal that conducts electricity. A cable is a bundle of two or more wires grouped together inside protective insulation. Put simply, a cable is usually made up of several wires. 'Wire' also suggests something thinner and finer, while 'cable' implies thickness, strength, and heavier duty.
What is the difference between a cable and a cord?
The words overlap, but a 'cord' is generally thinner and more flexible, like a charging cord or a curtain cord. A 'cable' is thicker and more heavy-duty, built to carry more power, more data, or a greater physical load, such as a steel bridge cable. Cords are light; cables are strong.
What are the main types of cable?
Cables fall into two broad groups. Electrical and data cables carry power or signals — examples include power cables, USB cables, ethernet, and fibre-optic cables. Mechanical cables carry physical loads, such as the steel cables on suspension bridges, lifts, and cranes. The same word covers both because each is a strong, bundled line.
Does cable always mean electrical wires?
No. A cable can be a purely mechanical rope of twisted steel or fibre, used to pull, support, or lift heavy weights, as on a ship, bridge, or cable car. The electrical sense, carrying power or signals, came later. Both share the core idea of a thick, strong, bundled line.