derelict car
- noun
- /ˈdɛrəlɪkt kɑr/
:
coche abandonado
- You can often find valuable parts if you search through the derelict cars left in the junkyard.
Examples
-
In the alley behind my house, a derelict car has been left to gather dust and weeds.
-
"He led Tom down a muddy track, past the rusting hulks of derelict cars, to an old barn, lined on either side with stalls.
Fiction book (1995) -
The lot was filled with derelict cars that had been forgotten for years, covered in rust and vines.
Synonyms
4
6.1
An old car in bad condition that often breaks down
Antonyms
How Neglected
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a car that has been abandoned and left in disrepair' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'derelict' (abandoned/neglected) with 'car' (motor vehicle). This is a straightforward adjective + noun composition following standard English patterns (and similar logic in many languages), so a learner who knows both words would readily understand the phrase.
Etymology
Derelict car paints a clear picture: a car left for a long time with flat tires, broken windows and rust, as if no one cares for it. So, it means a vehicle that is 'abandoned' and in very bad condition.