a heavy two-wheeled vehicle, commonly without springs, drawn by mules, oxen, or the like, used for the conveyance of heavy goods.
a light two-wheeled vehicle with springs, drawn by a horse or pony.
any small vehicle pushed or pulled by hand.
Obsolete. a chariot.
put the cart before the horse, to do or place things in improper order; be illogical.
on the water cart, wagon.
a heavy open vehicle, usually having two wheels and drawn by horses, used in farming and to transport goods
a light open horse-drawn vehicle having two wheels and springs, for business or pleasure
any small vehicle drawn or pushed by hand, such as a trolley
to reverse the usual or natural order of things
(usually tr) to use or draw a cart to convey (goods, etc)
to cart groceries
(tr) to carry with effort; haul
to cart wood home
before 900; Middle English cart ( e ), Old English cræt (by metathesis); cognate with Old Norse kartr cart
A cart is a vehicle with wheels that's pulled by an animal, a person, or by another vehicle. You could attach a cart to your dog and teach him to pull it around. The typical cart is hooked up to a draft horse or another farm animal. Other kinds of carts include hand carts, which can be stacked with heavy items and easily pushed or pulled by people; and golf carts, which are open vehicles that are powered by electricity or gasoline. When you cart something around, you lug it or transport it. The word cart comes from a Scandinavian source, probably the Old Norse kartr.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Into the cart go peas, spinach, chopped onions and corn — the humble supporting cast of countless weeknight meals.
From Salon • May 22, 2026
The Chicks and Ra-Men cart flies down 1st Street while competing in the Red Bull Soapbox Race.
From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026
In a corner of their home is the tricycle cart that Mohammad Anwar sold bottled water from.
From BBC • May 12, 2026
"When I'm not using the cart," Trump, who has frequently been pictured in a golf buggy, added in a mock-dramatic aside.
From Barron's • May 5, 2026
Eisman took the cart to the clubhouse and bought a hoodie.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
