cab

cab

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Pronunciation

• cab: /kæb/

• ca: /kæ/ (k-ah)

• b: /b/ (b)

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Word Form Variations

• Singular Noun: cab

• Plural Noun: cabs

• Verb (base form): cab

• Verb (third-person singular present): cabs

• Verb (present participle): cabbing

• Verb (past tense/past participle): cabbed

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Noun

• Definition 1: A taxi; a car for hire, typically operated by a professional driver, used for transporting passengers for a fare.

• Synonyms: taxi, hack (informal), hired car

• Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it refers to a specific type of vehicle. One might consider "private car" or "personal vehicle" as a contrast in ownership.)

• Definition 2: The enclosed compartment in a truck, train, or crane where the driver or operator sits.

• Synonyms: cockpit, cabin, driver's compartment

• Antonyms: (No direct antonyms)

Verb

• Definition 1: To travel by taxi.

• Synonyms: taxi, ride (in a taxi)

• Antonyms: walk, drive (one's own car), bus, cycle

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Examples of Use

Books:

• "He hailed a cab outside the theater, eager to escape the biting wind." (Example from a contemporary novel)

• "The detective followed the suspect's cab through the winding city streets, hoping to catch a break in the case." (Example from a mystery novel)

Newspapers:

• "New regulations for ride-sharing services are impacting traditional cab drivers in major cities." (The New York Times)

• "A runaway truck lost its cab after colliding with a bridge support, causing significant traffic delays." (Local Herald)

Online Publications:

• "Why taking a cab might still be your best option for airport travel during peak hours." (Traveler's Digest Online)

• "The future of electric vehicles: new designs for silent cab interiors in commercial trucks." (AutoTech Review)

Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• Film: In the movie Taxi Driver (1976), Robert De Niro's character, Travis Bickle, drives a New York City cab.

• Television Series: "She needed to cab it across town to make her audition on time." (Dialogue from a popular sitcom, Season 3, Episode 7, airing November 2023)

• Music: "Going downtown, catch a cab, meet me at the club." (Lyrics from a popular pop song, released January 2024)

• Video Games: In games like Grand Theft Auto, players can often hail a cab to quickly travel across the game's map.

General Public Discourse:

• "I'm running late, I'll just cab it over." (Heard in a casual conversation between friends)

• "The driver's cab looked really cramped in that old delivery truck." (Comment made by a passerby observing a vehicle)

• "Is it cheaper to take a cab or use a ride-sharing app these days?" (Question posed in an online forum)

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10 Quotes Using Cab

1. "A man's got to take a lot of cab drives to get a good idea of New York." (E.B. White)

2. "My public is my guide, and I just try to take the shortest cab ride." (Andy Warhol)

3. "I need a good time, a good laugh, and a good cab ride home." (Unknown)

4. "Always take a cab if you're tired. It's not worth it." (Ernest Hemingway)

5. "A cab driver is the last man to know if he's famous." (Woody Allen)

6. "Life is like a cab ride; sometimes you're in the driver's seat, sometimes you're just along for the ride." (Unknown)

7. "I got in a cab in New York, and the driver was wearing a 'Make America Great Again' hat." (Lena Dunham)

8. "When you're in a strange city, a cab driver can be your best friend or your worst enemy." (Unknown)

9. "I could never be a cab driver; I'd be too tempted to give people advice." (Unknown)

10. "The best conversations often happen in the back of a cab." (Unknown)

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Etymology

The word "cab" is a shortened, informal version of the much older word "cabriolet."

• French Roots: The story starts with the French word "cabriolet" (pronounced "kab-ree-oh-LAY"). This word literally meant "a leap" or "a caper." It came from an older Italian word, "capriola," which meant "a caper, frisk, or leap," and literally referred to "a leap like that of a kid goat." This connection to goats comes from the Latin word "caper," meaning "he-goat."

• Why the "leap"? The early "cabriolets" were light, two- or four-wheeled horse-drawn carriages known for their springy suspension, which made them "leap" or bounce a bit on rough roads.

• Arrival in London and Shortening: These "cabriolets" were introduced to London from Paris around 1820. Because they were a popular type of carriage for hire, people in London started informally shortening the long word "cabriolet" to just "cab." This shorter version, "cab," first appeared around 1826 to refer to these horse-drawn carriages.

• Evolution to Modern Use: Over time, as automobiles replaced horse-drawn carriages, the word "cab" naturally extended to refer to cars for hire, particularly taxicabs. The term "taxicab" itself is a combination of "taximeter" (the device that calculates the fare) and "cab."

So, the word "cab" started as a nickname for a bouncy horse-drawn carriage and evolved to describe the taxis we know today!

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Cab

1. Hail a cab: To signal a taxi to stop so you can get in.

2. Cab it: To take a taxi.

3. Cab rank/stand: A designated place where taxis wait for passengers.

4. Cab driver: The person who drives a taxi.

5. Cab fare: The money paid for a taxi ride.

6. Catch a cab: Similar to "hail a cab," meaning to get a taxi.

7. In the driver's cab: Referring to being in the control compartment of a large vehicle (like a truck or train), implying being in control.

8. Jump in a cab: To quickly get into a taxi.

9. Taxi dance: (Using synonym 'taxi') A dance where a dancer is paid by the dance.

10. A taxi meter is running: (Using synonym 'taxi') Implies that time is passing, and costs are accumulating.

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of cab from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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