CAR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does car mean? 

• CAR (noun)
  The noun CAR has 5 senses:

1. a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

2. a wheeled vehicle adapted to the rails of railroad

3. the compartment that is suspended from an airship and that carries personnel and the cargo and the power plant

4. where passengers ride up and down

5. a conveyance for passengers or freight on a cable railway

  Familiarity information: CAR used as a noun is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CAR (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

auto; automobile; car; machine; motorcar

Context example:

he needs a car to get to work

Hypernyms ("car" is a kind of...):

automotive vehicle; motor vehicle (a self-propelled wheeled vehicle that does not run on rails)

Meronyms (parts of "car"):

sunroof; sunshine-roof (an automobile roof having a sliding or raisable panel)

air bag (a safety restraint in an automobile; the bag inflates on collision and prevents the driver or passenger from being thrown forward)

fin; tail fin; tailfin (one of a pair of decorations projecting above the rear fenders of an automobile)

first; first gear; low; low gear (the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving)

third; third gear (the third from the lowest forward ratio gear in the gear box of a motor vehicle)

anti-sway bar; stabilizer bar (a rigid metal bar between the front suspensions and between the rear suspensions of cars and trucks; serves to stabilize the chassis)

auto accessory (an accessory for an automobile)

automobile engine (the engine that propels an automobile)

automobile horn; car horn; hooter; horn; motor horn (a device on an automobile for making a warning noise)

running board (a narrow footboard serving as a step beneath the doors of some old cars)

accelerator; accelerator pedal; gas; gas pedal; gun; throttle (a pedal that controls the throttle valve)

roof (protective covering on top of a motor vehicle)

reverse; reverse gear (the gears by which the motion of a machine can be reversed)

window (a transparent opening in a vehicle that allow vision out of the sides or back; usually is capable of being opened)

car seat (a seat in a car)

fender; wing (a barrier that surrounds the wheels of a vehicle to block splashing water or mud)

floorboard (the floor of an automobile)

gasoline engine; petrol engine (an internal-combustion engine that burns gasoline; most automobiles are driven by gasoline engines)

glove compartment (compartment on the dashboard of a car)

grille; radiator grille (grating that admits cooling air to car's radiator)

high; high gear (a forward gear with a gear ratio that gives the greatest vehicle velocity for a given engine speed)

rear window (car window that allows vision out of the back of the car)

bonnet; cowl; cowling; hood (protective covering consisting of a metal part that covers the engine)

car window (a window in a car)

car mirror (a mirror that the driver of a car can use)

automobile trunk; boot; luggage compartment; trunk (compartment in an automobile that carries luggage or shopping or tools)

car door (the door of a car)

bumper (a mechanical device consisting of bars at either end of a vehicle to absorb shock and prevent serious damage)

buffer; fender (a cushion-like device that reduces shock due to an impact)

Domain member category:

passenger; rider (a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it)

adhesive friction; grip; traction (the friction between a body and the surface on which it moves (as between an automobile tire and the road))

chattel; movable; personal chattel (personal as opposed to real property; any tangible movable property (furniture or domestic animals or a car etc))

prang (crash)

hopped-up ((of an automobile) having the engine modified to give extra power)

tunnel (a passageway through or under something, usually underground (especially one for trains or cars))

alternator (an old term for an electric generator that produces alternating current (especially in automobiles))

spark lever ((on early automobiles) a lever mounted on the steering column and used to adjust the timing of the ignition)

saleroom; salesroom; showroom (an area where merchandise (such as cars) can be displayed)

backseat (a seat at the back of a vehicle (especially the seat at the back of an automobile))

road map (a map showing roads (for automobile travel))

rental; renting (the act of paying for the use of something (as an apartment or house or car))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "car"):

loaner (a car that is lent as a replacement for one that is under repair)

ambulance (a vehicle that takes people to and from hospitals)

minicar (a car that is even smaller than a subcompact car)

minivan (a small box-shaped passenger van; usually has removable seats; used as a family car)

Model T (the first widely available automobile powered by a gasoline engine; mass-produced by Henry Ford from 1908 to 1927)

pace car (a high-performance car that leads a parade of competing cars through the pace lap and then pulls off the course)

race car; racer; racing car (a fast car that competes in races)

roadster; runabout; two-seater (an open automobile having a front seat and a rumble seat)

saloon; sedan (a car that is closed and that has front and rear seats and two or four doors)

sport car; sports car (a small low car with a high-powered engine; usually seats two persons)

S.U.V.; sport utility; sport utility vehicle; SUV (a high-performance four-wheel drive car built on a truck chassis)

Stanley Steamer (a steam-powered automobile)

stock car (a car kept in dealers' stock for regular sales)

subcompact; subcompact car (a car smaller than a compact car)

phaeton; tourer; touring car (large open car seating four with folding top)

secondhand car; used-car (a car that has been previously owned; not a new car)

jeep; landrover (a car suitable for traveling over rough terrain)

beach waggon; beach wagon; estate car; station waggon; station wagon; waggon; wagon (a car that has a long body and rear door with space behind rear seat)

bus; heap; jalopy (a car that is old and unreliable)

cab; hack; taxi; taxicab (a car driven by a person whose job is to take passengers where they want to go in exchange for money)

compact; compact car (a small and economical car)

convertible (a car that has top that can be folded or removed)

coupe (a car with two doors and front seats and a luggage compartment)

cruiser; patrol car; police car; police cruiser; prowl car; squad car (a car in which policemen cruise the streets; equipped with radiotelephonic communications to headquarters)

gas guzzler (a car with relatively low fuel efficiency)

hardtop (a car that resembles a convertible but has a fixed rigid top)

hatchback (a car having a hatchback door)

horseless carriage (an early term for an automobile)

hot-rod; hot rod (a car modified to increase its speed and acceleration)

limo; limousine (large luxurious car; usually driven by a chauffeur)

electric; electric automobile; electric car (a car that is powered by electricity)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A wheeled vehicle adapted to the rails of railroad

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

car; railcar; railroad car; railway car

Context example:

three cars had jumped the rails

Hypernyms ("car" is a kind of...):

wheeled vehicle (a vehicle that moves on wheels and usually has a container for transporting things or people)

Meronyms (parts of "car"):

suspension; suspension system (a mechanical system of springs or shock absorbers connecting the wheels and axles to the chassis of a wheeled vehicle)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "car"):

freight car (a railway car that carries freight)

van ((Great Britain) a closed railroad car that carries baggage or freight)

tender (car attached to a locomotive to carry fuel and water)

slip carriage; slip coach (a railway car at the end of the train; it can be detached without stopping the train)

carriage; coach; passenger car (a railcar where passengers ride)

mail car (a railway car in which mail is transported and sorted)

handcar (a small railroad car propelled by hand or by a small motor)

guard's van (the car on a train that is occupied by the guard)

club car; lounge car (railroad car having a bar and tables and lounge chairs)

cabin car; caboose (a car on a freight train for use of the train crew; usually the last car on the train)

baggage car; luggage van (a railway car where passengers' bags are carried)

Holonyms ("car" is a member of...):

railroad train; train (public transport provided by a line of railway cars coupled together and drawn by a locomotive)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The compartment that is suspended from an airship and that carries personnel and the cargo and the power plant

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

car; gondola

Hypernyms ("car" is a kind of...):

compartment (a partitioned section, chamber, or separate room within a larger enclosed area)

Holonyms ("car" is a part of...):

airship; dirigible (a steerable self-propelled aircraft)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Where passengers ride up and down

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

car; elevator car

Context example:

the car was on the top floor

Hypernyms ("car" is a kind of...):

compartment (a partitioned section, chamber, or separate room within a larger enclosed area)

Holonyms ("car" is a part of...):

elevator; lift (lifting device consisting of a platform or cage that is raised and lowered mechanically in a vertical shaft in order to move people from one floor to another in a building)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A conveyance for passengers or freight on a cable railway

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

cable car; car

Context example:

they took a cable car to the top of the mountain

Hypernyms ("car" is a kind of...):

compartment (a partitioned section, chamber, or separate room within a larger enclosed area)

Holonyms ("car" is a part of...):

cable railway; funicular; funicular railway (a railway up the side of a mountain pulled by a moving cable and having counterbalancing ascending and descending cars)

 Context examples 

Mercury rules the moving parts in all machines, so don’t buy a car, a refrigerator, computer, smart phone, or other expensive item until the end of this month.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

A supporting frame designed to hold other components or devices such as the chassis of a car or the internal frame of an electronic device.

(Chassis Device Component, NCI Thesaurus)

If you are taking a long car or plane trip, take a break, walk or stretch your legs and drink plenty of liquids.

(Deep Vein Thrombosis, NIH)

CO is found in combustion fumes, such as those made by cars and trucks, lanterns, stoves, gas ranges and heating systems.

(Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Back injuries can result from sports injuries, work around the house or in the garden, or a sudden jolt such as a car accident.

(Back Injuries, NIH)

It is found in car exhaust, smoke from wood fires, tobacco, oil and gas products, charred or grilled foods, and other sources.

(Benzo(a)pyrene, NCI Dictionary)

It is given off by burning fuel (as in exhaust from cars or household heaters) and tobacco products.

(Carbon monoxide, NCI Dictionary)

Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) As a passenger in a car for an hour without a break.

(ESS - As a Passenger in a Car for an Hour Without a Break, NCI Thesaurus)

Fractures commonly happen because of car accidents, falls or sports injuries.

(Fractures, NIH)

Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) Activities: are you able to get in and out of a car?

(HAQ-DI - Able to Get In and Out of Car, NCI Thesaurus)