cash

¹

[kash]

noun

1. money in the form of coins or banknotes, especially that issued by a government.

2. money or an equivalent, as a check, paid at the time of making a purchase.

verb (used with object)

1. to give or obtain cash for (a check, money order, etc.).

2. Cards.

   1. to win (a trick) by leading an assured winner.

   2. to lead (an assured winner) in order to win a trick.

      He cashed his ace and led the queen.

verb phrase

1. cash in

   1. to turn in and get cash for (one's chips), as in a gambling casino.

   2. to end or withdraw from a business agreement; convert one's assets into cash.

   3. Slang.,  to die.

      After her parents cashed in, she lived with her grandmother.

2. cash in on,  to profit from; use to one's advantage.

   swindlers who cash in on the credulity of the public.

cash

²

[kash]

noun

plural

cash 

1. any of several low-denomination coins of China, India, and the East Indies, especially a Chinese copper coin.

Cash

³

[kash]

noun

1. John Johnny, 1932–2003, U.S. country-and-western singer, musician, and composer.

cash

¹

/ kæʃ /

noun

1. banknotes and coins, esp in hand or readily available; money or ready money

2. immediate payment, in full or part, for goods or services (esp in the phrase cash down )

3. (modifier) of, for, or paid by cash

   a cash transaction

4. a checkout counter

verb

1. (tr) to obtain or pay ready money for

   to cash a cheque

Cash

²

/ kæʃ /

noun

1. Johnny. 1932–2003, US country-and-western singer, guitarist, and songwriter. His recordings include the hits "I Walk the Line" (1956), "Ring of Fire" (1963), "A Boy named Sue" (1969), and the American Recordings series of albums (1994–2003)

cash

³

/ kæʃ /

noun

1. any of various Chinese, Indonesian, or Indian coins of low value

Other Word Forms

• cashable adjective
• cashability noun
• cashableness noun
• uncashed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cash¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Middle French casse, from Old Italian cassa, from Latin capsa “(cylindrical) case (for books)”; 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)

Word History and Origins

Origin of cash¹

C16: from Old Italian cassa money box, from Latin capsa _case ²

Origin of cash²

C16: from Portuguese caixa, from Tamil kāsu, from Sanskrit karsa weight of gold or silver

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. cash in one's chips, to die.

More idioms and phrases containing cash

• cold cash

Example Sentences

Europe's top clubs could cash in on streaming rights as Uefa looks to raise over £4bn per year from its next TV deals.

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UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the concept of reparations for former colonial nations affected by slavery was "not about the transfer of cash".

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The celebrities will play for a cash prize of up to £100,000.

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"If you're swimming in red ink, an infusion of cash helps stem the tide," he said of the bailout.

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Another supplier, Genex UK, a small company which presses metal parts, told the BBC it had been forced to lay off 18 staff because of a cash shortage.

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Related Words

• buck 
• currency 
• investment 
• note 
• payment 
• refund 
• reserve 
• security 
• stock 
• supply