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cable car

cable car

11 3.5
A vehicle that hangs from a cable and carries people up a hill
  • noun
  • /ˈkeɪbəl kɑr/
translation icon : teleférico
  • We took the cable car to the top of the mountain, enjoying the breathtaking views.

And they said all our cable cars are broke and we want to, we want to hire you to design A fununcular system for the city.

Examples

  • San Francisco cable cars.

  • We are about to get on this cable car to get up the mountain.

  • So we just did the cable car thing, which is really cool.

  • You must take the cable car up to the top.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • An hour later, it's their turn in line for the cable car.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • We can take one of the cable cars up to the dock.

  • She's been known to take the cable car up the mountain.

  • I can't wait to ride a cable car.

  • Take the cable car.

  • Then we take a cable car to Mansa Devito.

    Fiction book (1992)

Synonyms

car
vscable car
88 3.0

A carriage on a cable that carries people or goods up a hill

is the specific type used on inclines or suspended from cables
tram
vscable car
5 2.7

A cabin carried by cables between towers to move people up a mountain or across a valley

is used for cable vehicles on rails and steep inclines rather than hanging cabins
funicular
vscable car
  • Specialized
1 8.9

A railway that moves cars up and down a steep hill by a cable

is focused on single cable vehicles rather than paired balancing trains

How Fast

cable car
11 3.5
ski lift
  • UK
4 2.7
chairlift
5 3.4
T-bar
1 7.7
rope tow
  • Jargon
1 5.4

Surface Forms

cable car singular
cable cars plural

Morphology

cable + car

The meaning 'a vehicle that runs on a cable' is directly derivable from combining 'cable' (strong wire/rope) and 'car' (vehicle/cabin). This is a straightforward noun–noun compound following common composition patterns (and with transparent equivalents in many languages), so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Cable car comes from the clear picture of a small car that is pulled along or hangs from a strong cable. That's why 'cable car' now means a vehicle that carries people or things on a cable up a hill or across water.