cart

[kahrt]

noun

1. a heavy two-wheeled vehicle, commonly without springs, drawn by mules, oxen, or the like, used for the conveyance of heavy goods.

2. a light two-wheeled vehicle with springs, drawn by a horse or pony.

3. any small vehicle pushed or pulled by hand.

4. Obsolete.,  a chariot.

verb (used with object)

1. to haul or convey in or as if in a cart or truck.

   to cart garbage to the dump.

verb (used without object)

1. to drive a cart.

verb phrase

1. cart off / away,  to transport or take away in an unceremonious manner.

   The police came and carted him off to jail.

cart

¹

/ kɑːt /

noun

1. a heavy open vehicle, usually having two wheels and drawn by horses, used in farming and to transport goods

2. a light open horse-drawn vehicle having two wheels and springs, for business or pleasure

3. any small vehicle drawn or pushed by hand, such as a trolley

4. to reverse the usual or natural order of things

verb

1. (usually tr) to use or draw a cart to convey (goods, etc)

   to cart groceries

2. (tr) to carry with effort; haul

   to cart wood home

CART

²

abbreviation

1. Championship Auto Racing Teams

cart

³

/ kɑːt /

noun

1. radio television short for cartridge

Other Word Forms

• cartable adjective
• carter noun
• uncarted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cart¹

before 900; Middle English cart ( e ), Old English cræt (by metathesis); cognate with Old Norse kartr cart

Word History and Origins

Origin of cart¹

C13: from Old Norse kartr; related to Old English cræt carriage, Old French carete; see _car

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. put the cart before the horse, to do or place things in improper order; be illogical.

2. on the water cart, wagon.

More idioms and phrases containing cart

• upset the applecart

Example Sentences

If it was, the North Carolina program would be compelling, and not a sad, three-wheeled shopping cart.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Donkey carts and tractors jostled for space with pickups and larger transport trucks, the diesel fumes mixing with dust and the salty sea air.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He was eventually carted off the field, joining Eli Sanders, the Trojans’ other top back, who left the game in the first quarter.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

One minute Maria was selling tamales from her food cart in Chicago's West Side.

Read more on Barron's

"Alex spent seven hours with him in that golf cart," he said.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• rickshaw 
• truck 
• wagon