cab
kab
Cab (noun) means a taxi. Example: “I booked a cab to take us to the airport at dawn.”
noun
1
A taxi.
"I booked a cab to take us to the airport at dawn."
"The cab driver knew a shortcut through the back streets."
"We hailed a cab outside the station."
2
The compartment where the driver sits in a truck, train, or crane.
"From the cab of the crane, the operator could see the whole building site."
"The cab of the train was warm and quiet, with a panel of dials."
"The driver climbed into the cab and started the engine."
How to use cab
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA taxi, or the driver's compartment of a large vehicle.
Common pairings
hail a cab
a cab driver
the truck cab
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Word forms
- Plural
- cabs
- Third person singular
- cabs
- Past tense
- cabbed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I booked a _____ to take us to the airport at dawn.
Etymology
A shortening of cabriolet, an old horse-drawn carriage.
Related words
Rhymes for cab
See all rhymes for cab →Frequently asked questions
What does “cab” mean?
The word “cab” means a taxi. In plain terms, a taxi, or the driver's compartment of a large vehicle.
How do you pronounce “cab”?
“Cab” is pronounced kab (/kæb/ in IPA).
How do you use “cab” in a sentence?
Here is “cab” used in a sentence: “We hailed a cab outside the station.”
What part of speech is “cab”?
“Cab” is a noun.
Is “cab” a common word?
“Cab” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “cab” have?
“Cab” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a taxi.
What is the difference between a cab and a taxi?
Cab and taxi mean the same thing: a car you hire with a driver to take you somewhere for a fare. Cab is the shorter, more informal word, while taxi (or taxicab) is slightly more formal, and both are used in everyday speech.
What is the difference between the cab and the trailer of a truck?
The cab is the front compartment where the driver sits and controls the vehicle. The trailer is the separate rear section that carries the load; the same 'cab' sense also applies to the driver's compartment in a train or crane.
What is the difference between a cab and a minicab?
In British usage a cab (or black cab) can usually be hailed in the street or picked up at a rank. A minicab must be booked in advance by phone or app and cannot legally be flagged down on the road.
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