cable
/ˈkeɪbl/ (bre, ipa) · [kˈebəl] /ˈkeɪbl/ (ame, ipa) · [kˈebəl] /ˈkā-bəl/ (ame, mw) · /ˈkeɪ.bəl/ (bre, ipa) · [kˈebəl] /ˈkeɪ.bəl/ (ame, ipa)
cable — noun
- cablesingular
- cablesplural
1. a bundle of protected wires that carries power or electronic signals from one pl
a bundle of protected wires that carries power or electronic signals from one place to another.
The electrician replaced the damaged cable behind the kitchen oven.
cable behind + appliance
A loose cable under Gita's desk kept cutting off the printer.
The crew pulled a long cable across the stage for the lights.
Please keep your foot away from the laptop cable.
文法句型
power cable
cable behind/under + [thing]
用法筆記
Usually refers to something thicker and more protected than an ordinary cord. It can carry electricity, internet data, phone signals, or video signals.
2. television service sent through underground cables instead of being picked up th
television service sent through underground cables instead of being picked up through the air.
My grandparents still pay for cable even though they stream most shows.
pay for cable
The hotel lost cable during the storm, but the Wi-Fi stayed on.
We switched from cable to internet TV last winter to save money.
The sports bar shows big matches on cable every weekend.
文法句型
watch cable
pay for cable
on cable
用法筆記
In everyday use, this is often short for cable television. In some contexts, especially in North America, the same system may also include bundled internet or phone service.
常見錯誤
3. a very strong rope or metal line used to pull, hold, or support something heavy.
a very strong rope or metal line used to pull, hold, or support something heavy.
Workers tightened the main cable before the bridge opened at dawn.
bridge cable
A rusted cable snapped and dropped the gate onto the gravel.
The ship's cable scraped loudly across the wet dock wall.
From the cabin window, Sayaka watched the lift move on a steel cable.
文法句型
steel cable
ship's cable
bridge cable
用法筆記
This sense is about something heavy-duty that holds or moves weight. Distinguish it from sense 1, which is about wires for power or signals.
4. an old-style telegraph message, often sent quickly over a long distance or to an
an old-style telegraph message, often sent quickly over a long distance or to another country.
Before the ceremony, the family received a cable from Andrei in Nairobi.
receive a cable from + place
The newspaper printed the cable beside its report on the election.
Felix sent a cable home when the ship reached Singapore safely.
In the archive, each cable was folded into a thin brown file.
文法句型
send a cable
receive a cable from + [place/person]
用法筆記
Mostly seen in history books, older news reports, or fiction set before email became normal.
常見錯誤
cable — verb
- cablepresent simple I / you / we / they
- cables3rd person singular
- cabling-ing form
- cabledpast simple
1. to install cables in the ground or inside a building so a place can receive phon
to install cables in the ground or inside a building so a place can receive phone, internet, or television service.
Engineers cabled the new clinic before the doctors moved in.
cable + [place]
By autumn, the whole island had been cabled for faster internet.
be cabled for + service
The company plans to cable every classroom during the summer break.
Anong's street was finally cabled after years of weak phone service.
文法句型
cable + [place]
be cabled for + [service]
用法筆記
The object is a place such as a street, building, town, or room. Distinguish it from sense 2, where a physical object is tied or secured.
常見錯誤
2. to secure something firmly by tying or holding it with a thick rope or metal cab
to secure something firmly by tying or holding it with a thick rope or metal cable.
The crew cabled the crates to the truck before the mountain drive.
cable + object + to + anchor
Rescuers cabled the broken sign so the wind could not move it.
Ife cabled the small boat to a ring in the stone wall.
During the repair, the loose pipes were cabled together for safety.
- release
remove the restraint
文法句型
cable + [object] + to + [anchor]
cable + [objects] together
用法筆記
Usually used for heavy, exposed, or dangerous objects. The focus is physical restraint, not communication or utility service.
常見錯誤
3. to send a message by telegram or by an undersea telegraph cable.
to send a message by telegram or by an undersea telegraph cable.
The ambassador cabled London as soon as the talks collapsed.
cable + place
When the mine flooded, managers cabled for more pumps at once.
Shirin cabled that the baby was healthy and gaining weight.
Reporters cabled their stories from Cairo before the evening deadline.
文法句型
cable + [person/place]
cable that + [clause]
用法筆記
This sense sounds historical in modern English. Today people would usually say email, text, or message unless the context is set in an earlier period.