cart
Americannoun
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a heavy two-wheeled vehicle, commonly without springs, drawn by mules, oxen, or the like, used for the conveyance of heavy goods.
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a light two-wheeled vehicle with springs, drawn by a horse or pony.
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any small vehicle pushed or pulled by hand.
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Obsolete. a chariot.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb phrase
idioms
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put the cart before the horse, to do or place things in improper order; be illogical.
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on the water cart, wagon.
noun
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a heavy open vehicle, usually having two wheels and drawn by horses, used in farming and to transport goods
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a light open horse-drawn vehicle having two wheels and springs, for business or pleasure
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any small vehicle drawn or pushed by hand, such as a trolley
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to reverse the usual or natural order of things
verb
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(usually tr) to use or draw a cart to convey (goods, etc)
to cart groceries
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(tr) to carry with effort; haul
to cart wood home
abbreviation
noun
Other Word Forms
- cartable adjective
- carter noun
- uncarted adjective
Etymology
Origin of cart
before 900; Middle English cart ( e ), Old English cræt (by metathesis); cognate with Old Norse kartr cart
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.
“I would gladly give you a ride in my cart,” said the man, “but your donkey doesn’t look like he’d keep up with the horse.”
From Literature
From coastal Jableh, her paternal family’s home, she recalls the aromas of “flavored hookah smoke, nuts toasting on carts, and boiled sweet corn.”
From Los Angeles Times
As shopping carts ran out, some patrons bought laundry baskets to load their groceries in.
From Barron's
Some were carrying bags or pushing carts filled with basic necessities, while others just had envelopes filled with cash.
From Barron's
Women ride past on donkey carts, piled high with vegetables, jolting over potholes deep enough to trap a wheel.
From Barron's
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.
