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

1. carat; carats.

car

¹

/ kɑː /

noun

1. 1. Also called: motorcar.  automobile. 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

CAR

²

abbreviation

1. compound annual return

Other Word Forms

• carless 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

It aims to transform the street from a narrow, cluttered thoroughfare dominated by cars, to a more pleasant place to shop and visit.

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She said one unexpected car repair or hospital bill can easily push families over the edge.

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After police tapped an audio device in Hayes' car, they realised weapons had been hidden behind a false wall inside a flat.

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He threatened tariffs on Canadian lumber, dairy and cars.

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Others define people by their home, car, alma mater, profession and fancy holidays — the list goes on.

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Related Words

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

When To Use

What else does car mean?

To most of us on the outside, a car is a vehicle with a motor and four wheels. But in prison slang, your car is your crew, especially when it comes to drugs, protection, and money-making.