cash
1 Americannoun
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money in the form of coins or banknotes, especially that issued by a government.
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money or an equivalent, as a check, paid at the time of making a purchase.
verb (used with object)
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to give or obtain cash for (a check, money order, etc.).
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Cards.
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to win (a trick) by leading an assured winner.
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to lead (an assured winner) in order to win a trick.
He cashed his ace and led the queen.
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verb phrase
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cash in
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to turn in and get cash for (one's chips), as in a gambling casino.
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to end or withdraw from a business agreement; convert one's assets into cash.
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Slang. to die.
After her parents cashed in, she lived with her grandmother.
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cash in on to profit from; use to one's advantage.
swindlers who cash in on the credulity of the public.
idioms
noun
noun
noun
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banknotes and coins, esp in hand or readily available; money or ready money
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immediate payment, in full or part, for goods or services (esp in the phrase cash down )
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(modifier) of, for, or paid by cash
a cash transaction
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a checkout counter
verb
noun
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of cash1
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Middle French casse, from Old Italian cassa, from Latin capsa “(cylindrical) case (for books)”; see also cashier 1
Origin of cash2
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Portuguese caixa, from Tamil kācu the name of a copper coin, from Sanskrit karṣa a weight (of precious metal)
Explanation
Cash is money. If you've got extra cash in your pocket, you can put a dollar in the tip jar when you buy a cup of coffee. When you use the word cash, you usually mean actual paper and coin currency: dollar bills and quarters, for example. People often contrast cash with credit cards or checks, and your favorite diner may have a sign that says "Cash only!" When you cash a check, a bank gives you the written amount in bills and coins. In the late 16th century, cash meant "money box," from the Latin capsa, "box."
Vocabulary lists containing cash
Tax Day Words
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Exemptions, Deductions, and Loopholes: Tax Day Vocabulary
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Century 21 Accounting, 9e, Chapters 4-7
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Under the terms of the new integration, Afterpay on the Cash App card charges a flat 7.5% finance fee over a six-week repayment window.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026
Cash into SpaceX will, almost arithmetically, result in cash coming out of the stock market’s most liquid names.
From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026
Five British players - Neal Skupski, Henry Patten, Julian Cash, Lloyd Glasspool and Joe Salisbury - are ranked inside the world's top 10 and all have won Grand Slam titles over the past six seasons.
From BBC • May 29, 2026
Senior Cash Ginsberg finished with five goals and junior North Carolina commit Tripp King finished with two goals.
From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026
Cash registers chime, and shouts of laughter are eclipsed by a huge boom.
From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.