taxi

¹ American  

[tak-see] / ˈtæk si /

noun

plural

taxis, taxies

1. a taxicab.

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verb (used without object)

taxied, taxiing, taxying

1. to ride or travel in a taxicab.

2. (of an airplane) to move over the surface of the ground or water under its own power.

verb (used with object)

taxied, taxiing, taxying

1. to cause (an airplane) to taxi.

taxi- ² American  

1. variant of taxo-.

   taxidermy.

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taxi British  

/ ˈtæksɪ /

noun

1. Also called: cab.   taxicab.  a car, usually fitted with a taximeter, that may be hired, along with its driver, to carry passengers to any specified destination

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verb

1. to cause (an aircraft) to move along the ground under its own power, esp before takeoff and after landing, or (of an aircraft) to move along the ground in this way

2. (intr) to travel in a taxi

Other Word Forms

• untaxied adjective

Etymology

Origin of taxi

1905–10, short for taxicab

Explanation

Running late? Call a taxi. A taxi is a car you hire to drive you somewhere. In some big cities, all you have to do is raise your hand and yell "taxi!" and a taxi will pull up next to you. You can also refer to a taxi as a cab or a taxicab. Most taxis are cars, although boats for hire are sometimes also called taxis. As a verb, taxi describes what airplanes do when they move very slowly on a runway. Officially, taxi is short for taximeter cab, as they were originally named at the turn of the 20th century. Today the taximeter, which records distance and fare, is usually just called a meter.

Example Sentences

A Wall Street Journal reporter was assigned his own full security detail as he walked from passport control at the airport to a taxi.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

"We pre-booked a taxi to take us to the Town Hall, but forgetting there was five of us, didn't request a larger vehicle," Mrs Sanchez said.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

The passengers returned to the plane after a brief wait and were preparing to taxi when a second alert hit.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

"The difference between now and 10 years ago is like night and day,", said Tin Oo, a motorbike taxi driver in Yangon's industrial district of Hlaing Tharyar.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

"So you see, sir,” said Somkit in a voice sweet as palm sugar, "we were just testing that taxi out so we could fix the motor. Ask Officer Manit—he'll vouch for me.”

From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat

Related Words

• assign
• bring
• carry
• cede
• change
• convert
• deliver
• dispatch
• ferry
• find
• give
• hand over
• move
• pass on
• provide
• relocate
• remove
• sell
• send
• shift