cabinet
/ˈkæbɪnət/ (bre, ipa) · [kˈæbənət] /ˈkæbɪnət/ (ame, ipa) · [kˈæbənət] /ˈkab-nit ˈka-bə-/ (ame, mw)
cabinet — noun
- cabinetsingular
- cabinetsplural
1. the group of senior ministers who run a country's main government decisions toge
the group of senior ministers who run a country's main government decisions together.
After the election, the cabinet met to plan tax and housing policy.
the cabinet met to plan policy
Several cabinet members argued for more spending on rural hospitals.
cabinet members argued for + policy
The prime minister asked the cabinet to approve emergency food aid.
A late-night cabinet meeting followed the finance minister's sudden resignation.
- administration
broader and can include the whole ruling team, not just the senior ministers
- ministry
often used for the government as a whole, especially in parliamentary systems
- council
more general and not limited to the top ministers of a state
- opposition
the rival political side rather than the ruling ministers
文法句型
the cabinet meets
cabinet members
cabinet meeting
用法筆記
Often refers to the top decision-making ministers of a national government. In British English, it can take either a singular or plural verb depending on whether the group is treated as one body or as separate members.
2. a storage unit in a room that has doors, shelves, or drawers for keeping or show
a storage unit in a room that has doors, shelves, or drawers for keeping or showing items.
Mina kept clean towels in the tall cabinet beside the shower.
keep + items in a cabinet
A glass cabinet in the hall displayed old coins and family photos.
glass cabinet for display
The nurse opened the metal cabinet and took out fresh bandages.
We bought a narrow cabinet for shoes near the front door.
- cupboard
often used for kitchen or household storage
- locker
usually taller, plainer, and used in schools, gyms, or workplaces
- display case
focuses on showing valuable things, often behind glass
- open shelf
stores items without doors or drawers
文法句型
a cabinet for + items
open a cabinet
keep/store + item + in a cabinet
用法筆記
This word is broad and can describe storage furniture in a bathroom, kitchen, office, or living room. It often suggests a unit with doors or drawers, while shelf focuses on open storage.
常見錯誤
cabinet — adjective
- cabinetpositive
- more cabinetcomparative
- most cabinetsuperlative
1. connected with the group of ministers at the top of a government.
connected with the group of ministers at the top of a government.
Reporters waited outside the cabinet office for news about the reshuffle.
cabinet office
The party delayed its cabinet appointments until talks with its allies ended.
cabinet appointments
Camila is preparing notes for tomorrow's cabinet meeting on energy prices.
The minister denied leaking a cabinet paper to the Sunday press.
- ministerial
can be similar, but often focuses more on ministers as officials than on the cabinet as a body
文法句型
cabinet meeting
cabinet minister
cabinet office
用法筆記
Usually appears before nouns such as meeting, minister, office, or paper. It is mainly used in reporting and formal discussion about national politics.
2. small or fine enough to suit a compact room or to be kept as an object for close
small or fine enough to suit a compact room or to be kept as an object for close display.
The museum bought a cabinet clock with painted flowers on the case.
cabinet clock
A cabinet picture of the harbor hung above the desk in the study.
cabinet picture
The auction catalog described the tiny sculpture as a cabinet piece.
Their narrow flat looked better with cabinet furniture than with two large sofas.
- miniature
focuses more strongly on very small size
- ornamental
focuses on beauty or decoration rather than size
- oversized
too large for a small display space
文法句型
cabinet clock
cabinet picture
cabinet piece
用法筆記
This rare sense is mostly found in art, antiques, and older style descriptions. It often appears before nouns such as clock, picture, or piece to suggest something small, fine, and fit for display.
3. used in fine furniture making or relating to the work of a cabinetmaker.
used in fine furniture making or relating to the work of a cabinetmaker.
The workshop bought a cabinet saw for cutting thick oak boards.
cabinet saw
Lena learned cabinet skills while repairing old drawers in her uncle's shop.
cabinet skills
The college offers cabinet work classes for students interested in fine furniture.
The carpenter stored his cabinet tools in labeled drawers near the bench.
- joinery
focuses on skilled woodwork, especially fitted parts and furniture joints
文法句型
cabinet work
cabinet tools
cabinet saw
用法筆記
This rare sense appears in woodworking contexts, especially before nouns such as saw, work, tools, or skills. It points to furniture making rather than to general building work.