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• cable
  cable

  noun

  a heavy, strong rope.
• Cable
  Cable

  noun

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

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.

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verb (used with object)

cables, present (3rd person singular) cabled, past participle, past cabling present participle

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)

cables, present (3rd person singular) cabled, past participle, past cabling present participle

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.

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cable British  

/ ˈkeɪbəl /

noun

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

2. nautical an anchor chain or rope

3. 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)

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

   a submarine cable

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

6. See cable stitch

7. short for cable television

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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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• uncabled
  adjective
• cablelike
  adjective
• recable
  verb

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have cabled
  perfect
• has cabled
  perfect 3rd person singular
• has been cabling
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• have been cabling
  perfect progressive
• is cabling
  progressive 3rd person singular
• cables
  singular 3rd person
• am cabling
  progressive 1st person singular
• cabling
  participle
• are cabling
  progressive

Past

• had cabled
  perfect
• cabled
  simple
• was cabling
  progressive singular
• cabled
  participle
• were cabling
  progressive plural
• had been cabling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will cable
  simple
• will have cabled
  perfect
• will be cabling
  progressive
• will have been cabling
  perfect progressive

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

Explanation

A cable can be a strong and thick hemp or steel rope, or a conductor for sending electrical or optical signals. Cable has a bunch of meanings — ranging from communication cables to steel cables. With new online services that stream your favorite show on demand, cable television may become a thing of the past. If your adventurous kids have convinced you to install a zip line, then you better find a steel cable. In the age of email, chances are you'll never have a reason to send someone an overseas cable.

Example Sentences

It would give Paramount four streaming services, including HBO Max, and dozens of cable channels.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2026

Amazon.com said it entered a multibillion-dollar agreement with Corning to get optical fiber, cable and connectivity solutions to support its growing data center footprint.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

The efforts are designed to strengthen the U.S. supply chain for fiber, cable, and other connectivity solutions that are part of Amazon’s data-center buildout.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

In a cyber age where most consumers get their news from social media and watch YouTube channels on their TVs instead of cable, the peak influence of broadcasters like CBS has long been diminished.

From Slate • Jun. 5, 2026

“Why should I? I’d be a natural on TV, and the network—or the cable companies—would be crazy not to hire me.”

From "Liar, Liar" by Gary Paulsen

Related Words

• cord
• link
• rope
• wire