taxi
TAK-see
Taxi (noun) means a car that can be hired, along with a driver, to take passengers to a destination for a fare. Example: “It was raining hard, so we took a taxi to the theatre.”
noun
1
A car that can be hired, along with a driver, to take passengers to a destination for a fare.
"It was raining hard, so we took a taxi to the theatre."
"We hailed a taxi outside the station."
"The taxi dropped her off right at the front door."
verb
1
(of an aircraft) To move slowly along the ground under its own power, before or after flying.
"After landing, the jet taxied slowly towards the gate."
"The pilot was taxiing carefully past the hangars when the tower told him to stop."
"The plane taxied to the runway before takeoff."
2
To travel somewhere by taxi.
"We taxied to the airport because the first train was too early."
"If it is late, I will taxi back to my hotel."
"They taxied home after the party rather than drive."
How to use taxi
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA car-for-hire with a driver, or — for planes — to move slowly on the ground under engine power.
Common pairings
hail a taxi
call a taxi
the plane taxied
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Word forms
- Plural
- taxis, taxies
- Third person singular
- taxis, taxies
- Past tense
- taxied
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It was raining hard, so we took a _____ to the theatre.
Etymology
Shortened from "taximeter cab" — taximeter being the fare-calculating meter, from French taximètre, itself from Medieval Latin taxa ("charge, tax").
Related words
Rhymes for taxi
See all rhymes for taxi →Frequently asked questions
What does “taxi” mean?
The word “taxi” means a car that can be hired, along with a driver, to take passengers to a destination for a fare. In plain terms, a car-for-hire with a driver, or — for planes — to move slowly on the ground under engine power.
How do you pronounce “taxi”?
“Taxi” is pronounced TAK-see (/ˈtæksi/ in IPA).
How do you use “taxi” in a sentence?
Here is “taxi” used in a sentence: “We hailed a taxi outside the station.”
What part of speech is “taxi”?
Depending on how it is used, “taxi” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “taxi” come from?
The word “taxi” comes from Medieval Latin. Shortened from "taximeter cab" — taximeter being the fare-calculating meter, from French taximètre, itself from Medieval Latin taxa ("charge, tax").
Is “taxi” a common word?
“Taxi” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “taxi” have?
“Taxi” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a car that can be hired, along with a driver, to take passengers to a destination for a fare.
What is the difference between a "taxi" and a "cab"?
A taxi is a car hired with a driver to take passengers to a destination for a fare, and "cab" is a common shortened, informal term for the same thing. The two words refer to the same kind of vehicle, with "cab" simply being more casual.
What is the difference between taking a "taxi" and a "rideshare"?
A taxi is a car and driver hired to carry passengers for a fare, traditionally hailed in the street or booked by phone. A rideshare is arranged through an app that connects riders with drivers, so the main difference lies in how the ride is booked and priced rather than the basic service.
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