car

¹

[ kahr ]

noun

1. an automobile.
2. a vehicle running on rails, as a streetcar or railroad car.
3. the part of an elevator, balloon, modern airship, etc., that carries the passengers, freight, etc.
4. British Dialect. any wheeled vehicle, as a farm cart or wagon.
5. Literary. a chariot, as of war or triumph.
6. Archaic. cart; carriage.

car

²

[ kahr ]

adjective

, Chiefly Scot.

1. left-handed.
2. sinister.

CAR

³

1. computer-assisted retrieval.

car.

⁴

abbreviation for

1. carat; carats.

CAR

¹

abbreviation for

1. compound annual return

car

²

/ kɑː /

noun

1. 1. Also calledmotorcarautomobile a self-propelled road vehicle designed to carry passengers, esp one with four wheels that is powered by an internal-combustion engine
   2. ( as modifier )

      car coat

2. a conveyance for passengers, freight, etc, such as a cable car or the carrier of an airship or balloon
3. a railway vehicle for passengers only, such as a sleeping car or buffet car
4. a railway carriage or van
5. the enclosed platform of a lift
6. a poetic word for chariot

Other Words From

• carless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of car¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English carre, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin carra (feminine singular), from Latin, neuter plural of carrum, variant of carrus “baggage cart, freight wagon,” from Gaulish; akin to Old Irish carr “wheeled vehicle”

Origin of car²

First recorded in 1375–1425; Middle English ( Scots ), from Scots Gaelic ceàrr “false, left, wrong”

Origin of car³

First recorded in 1980–85

Word History and Origins

Origin of car¹

C14: from Anglo-French carre, ultimately related to Latin carra, carrum two-wheeled wagon, probably of Celtic origin; compare Old Irish carr

Example Sentences

The most recent issue contains detailed instructions for building car bombs, and the magazine frequently draws up hit-lists.

From The Daily Beast

A Charlie Hebdo reporter said that security provision had been relaxed in the last month or so and the police car disappeared.

From The Daily Beast

The offices were firebombed in 2011; no one was hurt but a permanent police car was subsequently stationed outside.

From The Daily Beast

They all immediately dashed out to their car to catch the bad guys.

From The Daily Beast

Father Joel Román Salazar died in a car crash in 2013; his death was ruled an accident, but the suspicion of foul play persists.

From The Daily Beast

But, when the car came thundering down, it was crammed to the step; with a melancholy gesture, the driver declined her signal.

From Project Gutenberg

There he gave orders for the car to be put into running condition for the following morning, and returned to the hotel.

From Project Gutenberg

At six o'clock I felt once more the welcome motion of a Railroad car, and at eight was in Venice.

From Project Gutenberg

The wheezy, crazy mechanism of the car went to bits in unexpected places.

From Project Gutenberg

Mais ce n'est pas de merveille; car, comme j'ay dict, ils sont enfans.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• auto
• automobile
• bus
• convertible
• jeep
• limousine
• machine
• motor
• pickup
• ride
• station wagon
• truck
• van
• wagon