cable

nounverbcommon in dialogue

//ˈkeɪ.bəl//

A long object used to make a physical connection. A strong, large-diameter wire or rope, or something resembling such a rope.

noun

1
A long object used to make a physical connection. A strong, large-diameter wire or rope, or something resembling such a rope.
2
A long object used to make a physical connection. An assembly of two or more cable-laid ropes.
3
A long object used to make a physical connection. An assembly of two or more wires, used for electrical power or data circuits; one or more and/or the whole may be insulated.
4
A long object used to make a physical connection. A strong rope or chain used to moor or anchor a ship.
“And now the time of tide has come; the ship casts off her cables; and from the deserted wharf the uncheered ship for Tarshish, all careening, glides to sea.
5
A system for transmitting television or Internet services over a network of coaxial or fibreoptic cables.
I tried to watch the movie last night but my cable was out.
If the takeover is approved, Comcast would control 20 of the top 25 cable markets, […]. Antitrust officials will need to consider Comcast’s status as a monopsony (a buyer with disproportionate power), when it comes to negotiations with programmers, whose channels it pays to carry.
6
A telegram, notably when sent by (submarine) telegraph cable.
7
A unit of length equal to one tenth of a nautical mile.
8
100 fathoms, 600 imperial feet, approximately 185 m.
9
The currency pair British Pound against United States Dollar.
10
A moulding, shaft of a column, or any other member of convex, rounded section, made to resemble the spiral twist of a rope.
11
A textural pattern achieved by passing groups of stitches over one another.
12
Variant of cable televisionA system for transmitting television or Internet services over a network of coaxial or fibreoptic cables. Ellipsis of cable television, broadcast over the above network, not by antenna.

Etymology

Recorded since c.1205 as Middle English cable, from Old Northern French cable, from Late Latin capulum (“lasso, rope, halter”), from Latin capiō (“to take, seize”). Use of the term "cable" to refer to the USD/GBP exchange rate originated in the mid-19th century, when the exchange rate began to be transmitted across the Atlantic by a submarine communications cable.

verb

1
To provide (something) with cable(s).
2
To fasten (something) (as if) with cable(s).
3
To wrap (wires) to form a cable.
4
To send (a telegram, news, etc.) by cable.
Details of a bottle fight in El Morocco were cabled all over the world.
On 8th November Anthony cabled them, ‘Your great-grandson Randal Lewis Casson arrived to-day. Both well,’ and we sent, ‘Congratulations on becoming great-grandparents.’
5
To communicate by cable.
6
To ornament (something) with cabling.
7
To create cable stitches.
You've been cabling, twisting, popcorning and bobbling. See, we told you that they weren't so hard.

Forms

plural: cables
past tense: cabled
past participle: cabled
present participle: cabling
third person singular: cables

Cabe · A surname.cabin · A small dwelling characteristic of the frontier, especially…cabinet · A storage closet either separate from, or built into, a wall.

cable · A long object used to make a physical connection. A strong, large-diameter wire or rope, or something resembling such a rope.

Cable · A surname from Anglo-Norman.Cabot · A surname from French.Cabs · Cabaret Voltaire, an English music group formed in Sheffield…

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