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• cash
  cash

  noun

  money in the form of coins or banknotes, especially that issued by a government.
• Cash
  Cash

  noun

  John Johnny, 1932–2003, U.S. country-and-western singer, musician, and composer.

cash

¹ American  

[kash] / kæʃ /

noun

1. money in the form of coins or banknotes, especially that issued by a government.

2. money or an equivalent, as a check, paid at the time of making a purchase.

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verb (used with object)

1. to give or obtain cash for (a check, money order, etc.).

2. Cards.

   1. to win (a trick) by leading an assured winner.

   2. to lead (an assured winner) in order to win a trick.

      He cashed his ace and led the queen.

verb phrase

1. cash in

   1. to turn in and get cash for (one's chips), as in a gambling casino.

   2. to end or withdraw from a business agreement; convert one's assets into cash.

   3. Slang. to die.

      After her parents cashed in, she lived with her grandmother.

2. cash in on to profit from; use to one's advantage.

   swindlers who cash in on the credulity of the public.

idioms

1. cash in one's chips, to die.

cash ² American  

[kash] / kæʃ /

noun

• cash
  plural

1. any of several low-denomination coins of China, India, and the East Indies, especially a Chinese copper coin.

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Cash ³ American  

[kash] / kæʃ /

noun

1. John Johnny, 1932–2003, U.S. country-and-western singer, musician, and composer.

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cash ¹ British  

/ kæʃ /

noun

1. banknotes and coins, esp in hand or readily available; money or ready money

2. immediate payment, in full or part, for goods or services (esp in the phrase cash down )

3. (modifier) of, for, or paid by cash

   a cash transaction

4. a checkout counter

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verb

1. (tr) to obtain or pay ready money for

   to cash a cheque

Cash ² British  

/ kæʃ /

noun

1. Johnny. 1932–2003, US country-and-western singer, guitarist, and songwriter. His recordings include the hits "I Walk the Line" (1956), "Ring of Fire" (1963), "A Boy named Sue" (1969), and the American Recordings series of albums (1994–2003)

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cash ³ British  

/ kæʃ /

noun

1. any of various Chinese, Indonesian, or Indian coins of low value

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cash More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing cash

• cold cash

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• cashability
  noun
• cashableness
  noun
• cashable
  adjective
• uncashed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• cash
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of cash¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Middle French casse, from Old Italian cassa, from Latin capsa “(cylindrical) case (for books)”; see also cashier ¹

Origin of cash²

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Portuguese caixa, from Tamil kācu the name of a copper coin, from Sanskrit karṣa a weight (of precious metal)

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Explanation

Cash is money. If you've got extra cash in your pocket, you can put a dollar in the tip jar when you buy a cup of coffee. When you use the word cash, you usually mean actual paper and coin currency: dollar bills and quarters, for example. People often contrast cash with credit cards or checks, and your favorite diner may have a sign that says "Cash only!" When you cash a check, a bank gives you the written amount in bills and coins. In the late 16th century, cash meant "money box," from the Latin capsa, "box."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cash Cash

“If you’re a long-term investor and focus on free cash flow, Micron is in the top five of any technology company right now,” he said.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 6, 2026

Pigott described caffeine as "a bit like going into your overdraft - you might immediately have a little bit more money or cash, but that does need to be repaid in some format".

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

The RBA has raised interest rates five times this year, and the official cash rate is now at its highest level in 18 years.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

Tighter financial conditions and higher cash needs could make investors wary of putting up more money, or lead them to reduce exposure to the sector.

From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026

The mystery of figuring out the rightful owner of the cash wasn’t as exciting a mystery as following that treasure map.

From "Mystery Map (The Hardy Boys: Secret Files, #3)" by Franklin W. Dixon

The owner of Cash App and Square reported third-quarter net income of $565.6 million, up from $461.5 million the year prior.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026

Jauregui turned to merchant cash advances—MCAs for short—a legal, largely unregulated financing industry marketed on social media as a business lifeline: Cash in 24 hours or less.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

Cash, especially if the money is swept into non-interest or low-interest bearing accounts, is not likely to keep up with inflation.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026

“I feel like he’s kind of come back to being Freddy Peralta with us,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 25, 2026

Holding a toddling Fern with my right hand and a giddy Mattie with my left, I found a prime viewing spot on the boardwalk in front of Hanson’s Cash Grocery.

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson

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