cable

KAY-buhl/ˈkeɪ.bəl/

14 meanings of cable

1
electric wiresnouncountable or uncountable
One or more wires used to carry electricity or data, often covered in plastic.
Like several straws bundled together, each one carrying something through it.
The cable behind the TV carries the picture signal.
Don't pull on the charging cable too hard.
Similarwire, lead, cord
2
pay TVnounabbreviationellipsis
TV, and often internet, that comes into your home through wires, or the company service that provides it.
We watched the game on cable last night.
They canceled their cable to save money.
UsageSay on cable and get cable, usually with no a or the.
3
strong ropenouncountable or uncountable
A thick, strong rope or chain used to hold up, pull, or tie things, such as a ship at anchor.
Like a very thick, strong rope made of metal.
A steel cable held the bridge in place.
The ship was tied to the dock with a thick steel cable.
4
telegramnouncountable
A message sent quickly over a long telegraph wire, often one laid under the ocean.
Like an email from far away, but printed on paper and handed to you.
The editor sent a cable to the foreign desk that night.
She tore open the cable and read the bad news.
Similarcablegram, telegram
Note
5
knitting patternnouncountable
A twisted, rope-like pattern made by crossing one group of stitches over another.
Like two strands of rope twisting around each other.
The sweater had a thick cable running down each sleeve.
She added a cable to the front of the wool hat.
Note

Less common meanings

6
wire upverbtransitive
To put cables into a place so it can use electricity or data.
Like fitting a house with pipes, but for wires instead of water.
The crew cabled the whole building last summer.
They will cable the new offices next week.
Similarwire
7
tie downverbtransitive
To tie or hold something in place using cables.
Like tying a tent down with strong ropes so it won't blow away.
They cabled the tower to the ground to keep it steady.
Tree workers cable the weak branches so they will not break.
Similarlash, tie, tether, secure, fasten
8
send telegramverbtransitive or intransitive
To send someone a message by telegram.
Like sending a text message, but using old wires under the sea.
She cabled the news to her family back home.
Long ago, reporters had to cable their news stories home.
UsageSay cable news to someone, or cable someone the news.
Note
9
cross stitchesverbintransitive
To knit a twisted, rope-like pattern by crossing one set of stitches over another.
Like braiding hair, but with loops of yarn instead.
She is learning to cable so she can knit a warm sweater.
He cabled the front of the hat by crossing some stitches over others.
Note
10
twist wiresverbtransitive
To twist or wrap wires together to make a cable.
Like braiding hair, but with thin wires instead.
This machine can cable many thin wires together.
Workers cable the strands by hand in the old factory.
Similartwist, bundle, twine
11
sea distancenouncountable
A unit for measuring distance at sea, about 185 meters, or one tenth of a nautical mile.
The ship anchored about a cable from the harbor wall.
They drifted nearly a cable off course in the thick fog.
Note
12
carved ropenouncountable
A rounded molding or column part carved to look like a twisted rope.
Like a stone ribbon twisted to look like rope.
A carved cable ran around the base of the stone pillar.
The stone column had a carved cable that looked like twisted rope.
Note
13
carved ropeverbtransitive
To decorate something with a carved, twisted, rope-like pattern.
Like carving a stone post so it looks like a twisted rope.
Stone carvers sometimes cable a column so it looks like twisted rope.
The stone frame of the doorway is cabled to look like twisted rope.
14
noun
The trading name for the exchange rate between the British pound and the US dollar.

Practice

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Origin

It comes from Old Northern French "cable" and Late Latin "capulum," meaning a rope or halter, from Latin "capio," to take or seize.

Checked 7 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

Cable comes through Old Northern French cable from Late Latin capulum. en.wiktionary.org
Capulum denotes a rope or halter. en.wiktionary.org
Capulum derives from Latin capio. en.wiktionary.org
Latin capio means to take or seize. en.wiktionary.org