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car

car

1.0
A road vehicle with four wheels and an engine that carries people
  • noun
  • /kɑr/
translation icon : automóvil
  • Um, how about I meet you in the car?
  • drive a car
  • park a car
  • get a car

Do people fall asleep when the car is driving itself?

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Examples

  • I drove my car to work this morning to avoid public transportation.

  • Dad says if I pass everything this year he'll get me a car, which is really good.

  • And I want my car to go that way.

  • Why pick on one style of car or one race?

  • You know, I had that car for six days.

  • Oh, do you remember your little red car that you had?

  • Is his car still there?

  • I saw your car outside.

  • I'm just going to jump in the car, head back home.

  • This is the single most thrilling car I have ever driven.

Synonyms

vehicle
vscar
1.6

A machine like a car or bus that carries people and goods

is narrower, applying only to four-wheeled passenger road vehicles
auto
vscar
534 1.0

A car that people drive to go places

is the full neutral term rather than this casual short form
automobile
vscar
334 1.1

A vehicle with four wheels and an engine that carries people on roads

is the common everyday word rather than this more formal term
27 1.5

A machine like a car or bus that moves on roads and has an engine

is narrower, referring to a four-wheeled passenger vehicle
motorcar
vscar
9 1.0

A four-wheeled vehicle that carries people

is the general everyday name instead of this slightly technical label
set of wheels
vscar
  • Informal
8 5.0

A car or other vehicle someone owns

is the standard neutral term rather than this slangy expression
1 3.0

A machine with wheels like a car or bus that moves on roads

is more specific, meaning a four-wheeled passenger road vehicle
autocar
vscar
  • Archaic
9.6

A kind of early car that uses an engine to carry people

is the regular modern word instead of this historical usage

Idioms

A person who finally gets what they wanted but does not know what to do next

Very quick to begin working on a task

Compounds

90 1.0

A car used by police to patrol streets and respond to emergencies

72 1.3

A collision between cars that causes damage or injury

53 3.1

A car that runs on electricity

52 1.0

A car that someone else owned before and is not new

52 1.0

A seat in a car for the driver or passengers

50 1.0

A door on a car used for getting in and out

50 2.8

A small fast car with two seats made for high speed

45 2.8

A police car that drives around an area to watch for crime

40 2.7

A car police use while patrolling, usually with a radio

car bomb
  • Offensive
39 5.0

An explosive hidden inside a car that can be set off by remote control or a timer

34 3.5

A vehicle with strong metal walls that carries money or valuables

29 2.0

A car you pay to use for a short time, often when traveling

29 2.3

A business that makes and sells cars

29 2.7

A very fast car built to compete in events on a track

24 2.3

A plan that pays for car repairs and other costs after theft or accidents

22 1.0

A window in a car used to look outside and let air in

18 1.4

A person or company that buys and sells cars

14 1.0

A place where people leave their cars for a short time

11 1.3

A car you rent for a short time from a company

11 3.5

A vehicle that hangs from a cable and carries people up a hill

10 2.1

Money you borrow to buy a car

9 1.4

A piece of a car, like an engine or wheel

9 2.6

A part of a train that carries people

A company that makes cars

8 3.5

An older car that people collect and keep in good condition because of its age and style

7 2.1

A small electric car at an amusement park that people drive to hit other cars on purpose

7 3.2

A car that uses electricity and petrol to save fuel and make less pollution

7 2.8

An open area where a dealer shows and sells cars that other people owned

7 2.8

A car built to go very fast on tracks in sports competitions

6 2.0

A sport where people drive cars fast on a track to compete

6 1.1

A loud sound a driver makes to warn others or get attention

6 2.1

Company that makes cars

6 2.5

A vehicle on railway tracks that carries people or goods

stock car
  • Jargon
6 3.9

A racing car made from a regular car and changed for speed and safety

6 3.0

A part of a train where passengers eat meals during a journey

5 2.7

A part that stores electricity to start a car and power its lights and radio

5 3.0

A train car that carries passengers' luggage

4 2.2

A competition where cars race to cross the finish line first

4 3.2

A vehicle on a train that carries goods like boxes or crates

4 4.7

A rail car that carries cows or other farm animals

4 2.8

A small car that uses little fuel and fits up to five people

3 2.7

A person who fixes and looks after cars

pace car
  • Jargon
3 4.5

A fast car that leads racing cars around the track before the race starts

3 4.9

A train carriage with a bar and seats for people to relax and talk

A pleasant smell inside a brand new car

2 3.7

A road accident where several cars crash into each other, often after one car hits another

2 1.0

A round rubber cover that fits a car wheel, holds air, and helps the car grip the road

2 3.8

A vehicle that runs on tracks in city streets using electricity

2 1.0

Many cars moving on the roads at the same time

2 1.0

A place where cars are made

2 5.5

A military vehicle on wheels with light armor and a machine gun for combat

1 2.7

An enclosed space inside an elevator that carries people or goods between floors

touring car
  • Archaic
1 5.6

A large open car that has seats for four or more and a folding top

1 2.7

A boat that carries cars and other vehicles across water

1 5.5

A train car with seats, a bar, and tables for passengers to relax and talk

1 2.3

A vehicle that runs on tracks and carries people or goods

1 3.1

A train car with beds for passengers on overnight journeys

1 2.7

A group of people who share car trips to save money and reduce traffic

1 3.0

A feeling of being sick and dizzy when you travel in a car

1 4.5

A train that carries people and their cars

1 2.7

A car you rent to use for a short time

Pullman car
  • Archaic
1 6.7

A railway car with beds or reclining seats for very comfortable travel

tank car
  • Specialized
1 4.0

A train car that carries large amounts of liquids or gases

1 3.3

A car a dealer has ready to sell now

1 1.0

A round part under a car with a tire that turns to help it move

car battery
  • Specialized
1 3.4

A large pack that stores electricity to power an electric car and control how far it can go

1 2.7

Keeping a car clean and working by doing regular checks and repairs

1 2.8

A large truck or trailer that moves many cars to dealers

1 3.5

A train car without a roof that carries coal

mail car
  • Archaic
1 3.5

A train carriage where postal workers sort and carry mail while the train moves

jaunting car
  • Archaic
1 9.9

An open two-wheeled carriage pulled by a horse originally used in Ireland to carry people

A feeling that something is fresh and new, not a real smell

A car that someone else owned before

How Big

lorry
  • UK
11 3.5
bus
1.0
van
676 1.0
car
1.0
motorcycle
275 2.3

Surface Forms

car singular
cars plural

Etymology

The word car comes from an old word carrus meaning 'wheeled vehicle', the same idea behind cart and carriage. So a car today is a road vehicle that carries people.