ˈkeɪbl n. & v. --n. 1 a
thick rope of
wire or
hemp. 2 an encased
group of insulated wires
for transmitting
electricity or
electrical signals. 3 a
cablegram. 4 a Naut.
the chain of an
anchor. b a
measure of 200 yards. 5 (in full cable stitch) a knitted
stitch resembling twisted rope. 6 Archit. a rope-shaped
ornament. --v. 1 a tr.
transmit (a message) by cablegram. b tr.
inform (a person) by cablegram. c intr.
send a cablegram. 2 tr.
furnish or
fasten with a cable or cables. 3 Archit. tr. furnish with cables. øcable-car 1 a
small cabin (often
one of a series) suspended on an
endless cable
and drawn up and down a
mountainside etc. by an
engine at one
end. 2 a
carriage drawn
along a cable
railway. cable-laid (of rope) having
three triple strands. cable railway a railway along
which carriages are drawn by an endless cable. cable
television a broadcasting
system with signals transmitted by cable to subscribers' sets. [ME f. OF chable, ult. f. LL capulum
halter f.
Arab. habl]