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Glite Dictionary
minicab

minicab

1 5.6
A small car like a taxi that you book in advance
  • noun
  • /ˈmɪnɪkæb/
  • UK
translation icon : minicab
  • He decided to take a minicab home instead of the bus because it was late.

Examples

  • After booking a minicab online, I waited for it to arrive at my location.

  • The number of the minicab company is in the clubhouse.

    Best Foot Forward (1943)

  • Minicabs came and went through the night.

    Academic text (2007)

  • I called a minicab to pick me up from the airport at midnight.

Synonyms

taxi
vsminicab
382 1.0

A car with a driver people pay to drive them to a place

is smaller and normally reserved ahead not hailed
taxicab
vsminicab
18 1.0

A car with a driver that people pay to take them where they want

is smaller and mainly booked in advance rather than hailed
hack
vsminicab
  • Archaic
4 9.4

An old word for a taxi

is small and mainly reserved by booking rather than hailed

How Available

bus
∞ 1.0
taxi
382 1.0
minicab
  • UK
1 5.6

Surface Forms

minicab singular
minicabs plural

Morphology

minicab = mini + cab (transparent) = mini + cab

The meaning 'small taxi' follows directly from 'mini' + 'cab', though in UK use it often denotes a private hire vehicle booked in advance.

Etymology

Minicab comes from mini- meaning 'small' and cab meaning 'taxi'. So a minicab is a 'small taxi' that you often book ahead rather than pick up on the street.