cabinet

[ kab-uh-nit ]

noun

1. a piece of furniture with shelves, drawers, etc., for holding or displaying items:

   a curio cabinet;

   a file cabinet.

2. a wall cupboard used for storage, as of kitchen utensils or toilet articles:

   a kitchen cabinet;

   a medicine cabinet.

3. a piece of furniture containing a radio or television set, usually standing on the floor and often having a record player or a place for phonograph records.
4. Often Cabinet. a council advising a president, sovereign, etc., especially the group of ministers or executives responsible for the government of a nation.

   Synonyms: ministry

5. Often Cabinet. (in the United States) an advisory body to the president, consisting of the heads of the 13 executive departments of the federal government.
6. a small case with compartments for valuables or other small objects.
7. a small chamber or booth for special use, especially a shower stall.
8. a private room.
9. a room set aside for the exhibition of small works of art or objets d'art.
10. Also called cabinet wine. a dry white wine produced in Germany from fully matured grapes without the addition of extra sugar.
11. New England (chiefly Rhode Island and Southern Massachusetts). a milkshake made with ice cream.
12. Archaic. a small room.
13. Obsolete. a small cabin.

adjective

1. pertaining to a political cabinet:

   a cabinet meeting.

2. private; confidential; secret.
3. pertaining to a private room.
4. of suitable value, beauty, or size for a private room, small display case, etc.:

   a cabinet edition of Milton.

5. of, relating to, or used by a cabinetmaker or in cabinetmaking.
6. Drafting. designating a method of projection cabinet projection in which a three-dimensional object is represented by a drawing cabinet drawing having all vertical and horizontal lines drawn to exact scale, with oblique lines reduced to about half scale so as to offset the appearance of distortion. Compare axonometric, isometric ( def 5 ), oblique ( def 13 ).

cabinet

/ ˈkæbɪnɪt /

noun

1. 1. a piece of furniture containing shelves, cupboards, or drawers for storage or display
   2. ( as modifier )

      cabinet teak

2. the outer case of a television, radio, etc
3. 1. often capital the executive and policy-making body of a country, consisting of all government ministers or just the senior ministers
   2. sometimes capital an advisory council to a president, sovereign, governor, etc
   3. ( as modifier )

      a cabinet reshuffle

      a cabinet minister

4. 1. a standard size of paper, 6 × 4 inches (15 × 10 cm) or 6 1 2 × 4 1 4 inches (16.5 × 10.5 cm), for mounted photographs
   2. ( as modifier )

      a cabinet photograph

5. printing an enclosed rack for holding cases of type, etc
6. archaic.
   a private room
7. modifier suitable in size, value, decoration, etc, for a display cabinet

   a cabinet edition of Shakespeare

8. modifier (of a drawing or projection of a three-dimensional object) constructed with true horizontal and vertical representation of scale but with oblique distances reduced to about half scale to avoid the appearance of distortion
9. modifier (of a wine) specially selected and usually rare

cabinet

¹

1. A select group of officials who advise the head of government. In nations governed by parliaments , such as Britain , the members of the cabinet typically have seats in parliament. ( Compare cabinet under “American Politics.” )

cabinet

²

1. A group of presidential advisers, composed of the heads of the fourteen government departments (the secretaries of the Department of Agriculture , Department of Commerce , Department of Defense , Department of Education , Department of Energy , Department of Health and Human Services , Department of Housing and Urban Development , Department of the Interior , Department of Labor , Department of State , Department of Transportation , Department of the Treasury , Department of Veterans Affairs , and the attorney general (head of the Department of Justice ) — all of whom are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate ) and a few other select government officials. Theoretically, the cabinet is charged with debating major policy issues and recommending action by the executive branch ; the actual influence of the cabinet, however, is limited by competition from other advisory staffs.

Other Words From

• su·per·cab·i·net noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cabinet¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from Middle French, equivalent to cabine “hut, room on a ship” (of uncertain origin, but frequently alleged to be alteration of cabane cabin ) + -et -et

Word History and Origins

Origin of cabinet¹

C16: from Old French, diminutive of cabine, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Conestoga Wood Specialties Corporation A Pennsylvania-based wood cabinet and specialty products manufacturer.

From The Daily Beast

A third cabinet member used public funds to pay in an S & M bar.

From The Daily Beast

Other cabinet minister scandals have been reported in the media, and investigations may take place.

From The Daily Beast

But perhaps the most spectacular lot in the sale is a silver jug, a birthday present to Churchill from his War Cabinet in 1942.

From The Daily Beast

Cabinet ministers of the day gather to review the names and the allegations.

From The Daily Beast

His enemies in the cabinet were quick to perceive when their devices had taken effect on the King and Queen.

From Project Gutenberg

All that was necessary was a slight knowledge of a Cabinet Minister, and a smattering of schooling.

From Project Gutenberg

Meanwhile the cabal against the ruined Ripperda raged with redoubled fury in the Spanish cabinet.

From Project Gutenberg

A certain cabinet minister being asked why he did not promote merit?

From Project Gutenberg

The prime-minister, the chancellor of the exchequer, two other members of the cabinet, and an ambassador were his companions.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• administration
• authority
• committee
• government
• ministry