Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

cable

1 American  
[key-buhl] / ˈkeɪ bəl /

noun

  1. a heavy, strong rope.

  2. a very strong rope made of strands of metal wire, as used to support cable cars or suspension bridges.

  3. a cord of metal wire used to operate or pull a mechanism.

  4. Nautical.

    1. a thick hawser made of rope, strands of metal wire, or chain.

    2. cable's length.

  5. Electricity. an insulated electrical conductor, often in strands, or a combination of electrical conductors insulated from one another.

  6. cablegram.

  7. cable television.

  8. cable-stitch.

  9. Architecture. one of a number of reedings set into the flutes of a column or pilaster.


verb (used with object)

cabled, cabling
  1. to send (a message) by cable.

  2. to send a cablegram to.

  3. to fasten with a cable.

  4. to furnish with a cable.

  5. to join (cities, parts of a country, etc.) by means of a cable television network.

    The state will be completely cabled in a few years.

verb (used without object)

cabled, cabling
  1. to send a message by cable.

  2. to cable-stitch.

Cable 2 American  
[key-buhl] / ˈkeɪ bəl /

noun

  1. George Washington, 1844–1925, U.S. novelist and short-story writer.


cable British  
/ ˈkeɪbəl /

noun

  1. a strong thick rope, usually of twisted hemp or steel wire

  2. nautical an anchor chain or rope

    1. a unit of distance in navigation, equal to one tenth of a sea mile (about 600 feet)

    2. Also called: cable length.   cable's length.  a unit of length in nautical use that has various values, including 100 fathoms (600 feet)

  3. a wire or bundle of wires that conducts electricity See also coaxial cable

    a submarine cable

  4. Also called: overseas telegram.   international telegram.   cablegram.  a telegram sent abroad by submarine cable, radio, communications satellite, or by telephone line

  5. See cable stitch

  6. short for cable television

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to send (a message) to (someone) by cable

  2. (tr) to fasten or provide with a cable or cables

  3. (tr) to supply (a place) with or link (a place) to cable television

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • cablelike adjective
  • recable verb
  • uncabled adjective

Etymology

Origin of cable

1175–1225; Middle English, probably < Old North French *cable < Late Latin capulum lasso; compare Latin capulāre to rope, halter (cattle), akin to capere to take

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.

It could do a subsequent consolidation of its cable assets, likely with Charter or potentially a wireless operator, the analysts say.

From The Wall Street Journal

Netflix’s cash and stock offer values Warner’s streaming and studios business at $27.75 a share, with the Discovery cable assets being spun out to investors.

From Barron's

The suit escalates Paramount’s pursuit of Warner and casts the spotlight on Warner’s stable of cable networks such as CNN and TNT.

From The Wall Street Journal

Hadly said he canceled his cable TV and eats mostly chicken and pasta instead of beef.

From The Wall Street Journal

You likely get internet at home from cable providers like Comcast.

From The Wall Street Journal