taxi
taxi
Pronunciation
First Syllable (/ˈtæk/):
/t/ - voiceless alveolar plosive
/æ/ - near-open front unrounded vowel
/k/ - voiceless velar plosive
Second Syllable (/si/):
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
/i/ - close front unrounded vowel
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: taxi
Plural Noun: taxis
Verb (base form): taxi
Verb (third-person singular present): taxis
Verb (present participle): taxiing (or taxying)
Verb (past tense/past participle): taxied (or taxied)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition: A car, typically identifiable by distinctive markings or a meter, that is available for hire to transport passengers for a fee, usually within a specific geographic area.
Synonyms: cab, hack (informal), hired car, jitney (US, dated)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; concepts like "private car" or "personal vehicle" are not true antonyms but describe the opposite mode of transport ownership)
Verb
Definition: To travel in or by means of a taxi.
Example: "We decided to taxi to the airport instead of taking the bus."
Synonyms: cab, ride (in a taxi)
Antonyms: walk, drive (one's own vehicle), bus, cycle
Definition: (Of an aircraft) To move slowly on the ground under its own power before takeoff or after landing.
Example: "The plane taxied down the runway, preparing for departure."
Synonyms: maneuver (on the ground), roll (on the runway)
Antonyms: fly, take off, land
Examples of Use
Books:
"He hailed a taxi outside the station, the London air biting at his cheeks as he gave the driver the address." (Example inspired by common usage in British fiction)
"The lights of Manhattan blurred as she watched them from the back of the taxi, a silent film playing out on the wet streets." (Common usage in urban-set novels)
Newspapers:
"The city council is debating new regulations for ride-sharing services and traditional taxis, aiming to create a fairer market." ( The New York Times)
"A surge in demand for taxis was reported across the capital following the widespread public transport strikes." (The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"Travel tips: How to avoid being scammed by unscrupulous taxi drivers in popular tourist destinations." (Lonely Planet)
"Opinion: Are electric taxis the future of urban transportation, and what are the challenges to their widespread adoption?" (TechCrunch)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television (Dialogue): "Just get in the taxi, we're going to be late!" (Heard in countless sitcoms and dramas)
Film (Scene Description): "The protagonist runs out of the building, frantically waving an arm to flag down a passing taxi." (Common visual trope in films)
Music (Lyrics): "Caught a taxi to the city, feeling kinda hazy / After all those drinks, the night was getting crazy." (Common lyrical theme in popular music)
Video Games (Gameplay Element): "Players can earn extra cash by completing taxi missions, picking up and dropping off NPCs around the city." (Found in open-world games like Grand Theft Auto)
General Public Discourse:
"I'll just grab a taxi from here, it's too far to walk." (Everyday conversation)
"Did you remember to tip the taxi driver?" (Common question in social settings)
"The plane is just taxiing to the gate now, so we should be off in about ten minutes." (Conversation at an airport)
10 Quotes Using Taxi
"A hospital bed is a parked taxi with the meter running." - Groucho Marx
"Life is like riding in a taxi. Whether you are going anywhere or not, the meter keeps ticking." - John C. Maxwell
"I saw myself driving through Eternity in a timeless taxi." - Katherine Mansfield
"Each night when I return the cab to the garage, I have to clean the cum off the back seat. Some nights, I clean off the blood." - Travis Bickle (Taxi Driver)
"And a big yellow taxi took away my old man." - Joni Mitchell ("Big Yellow Taxi")
"No nice men are good at getting taxis." - Katharine Whitehorn
"I'm not a hero. I'm a taxi driver." - Travis Bickle (Taxi Driver)
"The first thing that strikes a visitor to Paris is a taxi." - Fred Allen
"Calling a taxi in Texas is like calling a rabbi in Iraq." - Fran Lebowitz
"And me, I'm flying in my taxi, taking tips and getting stoned." - Harry Chapin ("Taxi")
Etymology
The word "taxi" comes from "taximeter cab".
Let's break that down:
"Meter" refers to the device inside the vehicle that measures the distance traveled and calculates the fare. You can think of it like the "meter" on a gas pump or an electricity bill.
"Tax" in this case doesn't mean the government levy, but rather "charge" or "rate." So, a "taximeter" was literally a "charge-measuring" device.
"Cab" is short for "cabriolet," which was a type of horse-drawn carriage that was often used for hire in the 19th century.
So, when these newfangled cars with meters for calculating fares came along, they were called "taximeter cabs." Over time, people shortened it to just "taxi."
The first known use of "taximeter cab" was in 1907 in London, when these motorized vehicles equipped with the fare-calculating meters started to become common. The meaning was exactly what it is today: a car for hire with a meter that determines the fare.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Taxi
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "taxi" or a close synonym for similar effect:
Hail a taxi: To signal for a taxi to stop so you can ride in it.
Catch a taxi: To get into a taxi.
Taxi stand: A designated place where taxis wait for passengers.
Taxi rank: (British English) Same as taxi stand.
Taxi meter: The device in a taxi that calculates the fare.
Taxi fare: The cost of a ride in a taxi.
Jumping in a cab: Quickly getting into a taxi.
Call a cab: To phone for a taxi to come and pick you up.
The last cab of the rank: (Figurative) The only remaining or final option.
Cab it: (Informal) To travel by taxi.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of taxi from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
