car

¹

[ kahr ]

noun

1. an automobile.
2. a vehicle running on rails, as a streetcar or railroad car.
3. the part of an elevator, balloon, modern airship, etc., that carries the passengers, freight, etc.
4. British Dialect. any wheeled vehicle, as a farm cart or wagon.
5. Literary. a chariot, as of war or triumph.
6. Archaic. cart; carriage.

car

²

[ kahr ]

adjective

, Chiefly Scot.

1. left-handed.
2. sinister.

CAR

³

1. computer-assisted retrieval.

car.

⁴

abbreviation for

1. carat; carats.

CAR

¹

abbreviation for

1. compound annual return

car

²

/ kɑː /

noun

1. 1. Also calledmotorcarautomobile a self-propelled road vehicle designed to carry passengers, esp one with four wheels that is powered by an internal-combustion engine
   2. ( as modifier )

      car coat

2. a conveyance for passengers, freight, etc, such as a cable car or the carrier of an airship or balloon
3. a railway vehicle for passengers only, such as a sleeping car or buffet car
4. a railway carriage or van
5. the enclosed platform of a lift
6. a poetic word for chariot

Other Words From

• carless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of car¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English carre, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin carra (feminine singular), from Latin, neuter plural of carrum, variant of carrus “baggage cart, freight wagon,” from Gaulish; akin to Old Irish carr “wheeled vehicle”

Origin of car²

First recorded in 1375–1425; Middle English ( Scots ), from Scots Gaelic ceàrr “false, left, wrong”

Origin of car³

First recorded in 1980–85

Word History and Origins

Origin of car¹

C14: from Anglo-French carre, ultimately related to Latin carra, carrum two-wheeled wagon, probably of Celtic origin; compare Old Irish carr

Example Sentences

She said her car gave her freedom.

From BBC

Geoff Trewella, secretary and treasurer of the Cornwall County Car Club, is 75 and passed his driving test aged 17.

From BBC

He pledged to create an integrated transport system and said his success would be measured by a reduction in people needing to use a car.

From BBC

This caused him considerable embarrassment when, at the 1999 Labour conference, he used his ministerial car - a Jaguar - for a 200-yard journey back to his hotel.

From BBC

And when he was seen sharing a car with Gordon Brown and stopping off at a Scottish oyster bar, the rumours that Tony Blair was about to stand down intensified.

From BBC

Related Words

• auto
• automobile
• bus
• convertible
• jeep
• limousine
• machine
• motor
• pickup
• ride
• station wagon
• truck
• van
• wagon