cable

¹

[ key-buhl ]

noun

1. a heavy, strong rope.
2. a very strong rope made of strands of metal wire, as used to support cable cars or suspension bridges.
3. a cord of metal wire used to operate or pull a mechanism.
4. Nautical.
   1. a thick hawser made of rope, strands of metal wire, or chain.
   2. cable's length.
5. Electricity. an insulated electrical conductor, often in strands, or a combination of electrical conductors insulated from one another.
6. cablegram.
7. cable television.
8. cable-stitch.
9. Architecture. one of a number of reedings set into the flutes of a column or pilaster.

verb (used with object)

, ca·bled, ca·bling.

1. to send (a message) by cable.
2. to send a cablegram to.
3. to fasten with a cable.
4. to furnish with a cable.
5. to join (cities, parts of a country, etc.) by means of a cable television network:

   The state will be completely cabled in a few years.

verb (used without object)

, ca·bled, ca·bling.

1. to send a message by cable.
2. to cable-stitch.

Cable

²

[ key-buhl ]

noun

1. George Washington, 1844–1925, U.S. novelist and short-story writer.

cable

/ ˈkeɪbəl /

noun

1. a strong thick rope, usually of twisted hemp or steel wire
2. nautical an anchor chain or rope
3. 1. a unit of distance in navigation, equal to one tenth of a sea mile (about 600 feet)
   2. Also calledcable lengthcable's length a unit of length in nautical use that has various values, including 100 fathoms (600 feet)
4. See coaxial cable
   a wire or bundle of wires that conducts electricity See also coaxial cable

   a submarine cable

5. Also calledoverseas telegraminternational telegramcablegram a telegram sent abroad by submarine cable, radio, communications satellite, or by telephone line
6. See cable stitch
   See cable stitch
7. See cable television
   short for cable television

verb

1. to send (a message) to (someone) by cable
2. tr to fasten or provide with a cable or cables
3. tr to supply (a place) with or link (a place) to cable television

Other Words From

• cable·like adjective
• re·cable verb recabled recabling
• un·cabled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cable¹

1175–1225; Middle English, probably < Old North French *cable < Late Latin capulum lasso; compare Latin capulāre to rope, halter (cattle), akin to capere to take

Word History and Origins

Origin of cable¹

C13: from Old Norman French, from Late Latin capulum halter

Example Sentences

The matchup, aired on ESPN and NBC, became the most-viewed golf event in cable TV history, and the highest-rated golf broadcast on network TV in 30 years.

From Time

Top this best adjustable desk for customization with a simple flat board or add drawers, cabinets, shelves, a hook for hanging your headphones and attachments for keeping your cables in order.

From Popular-Science

It might, for instance, deter consumers from keeping their basic cable or Showtime subscriptions.

From Washington Post

I thought I would be able to ski across the cables, but when my ski edges hit the first one, I fell.

From Outside Online

New shows from Tyler Perry, “The Daily Show” host Trevor Noah and a prequel to the cable hit “Yellowstone” are also in the offing, as it a host of new reality series and All Access’s existing news and sports.

From Washington Post

Almost all of the network and cable news channels said that they would not be showing the cartoons either.

From The Daily Beast

Well, one expert I talked to said that physically it involves little more than a $20 cable.

From The Daily Beast

But then, this show has always been more than just the parody of right-wing cable punditry it was originally made out to be.

From The Daily Beast

Hart Electric LLC An Illinois- based manufacturer of electrical components, and H.I. Cable.

From The Daily Beast

HBOGo has become such a massive success for cable network HBO that they will start to offer the service as a stand-alone option.

From The Daily Beast

I plainly heard a noise upon the cover of my closet like that of a cable, and the grating of it as it passed through the ring.

From Project Gutenberg

That he laughed at their folly, and went himself in the boat, ordering his men to take a strong cable along with them.

From Project Gutenberg

The second cable quotes mine of last night wherein I ask leave to call for the East Lancs.

From Project Gutenberg

Neither of us has had a reply to his cable; instead, he has been told two enemy submarines are on their way to pay us a visit.

From Project Gutenberg

The Spanish authorities had just time before this measure was taken to report the bare facts to Madrid by cable.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cord
• link
• rope
• wire