cable

[[t]ke͟ɪb(ə)l[/t]]

♦♦♦

cables, cabling, cabled

1) N-VAR A cable is a kind of very strong, thick rope, made of wires twisted together.

The miners rode a conveyance attached to a cable made of braided steel wire...

Steel cable will be used to replace worn ropes.

2) N-VAR A cable is a thick wire, or a group of wires inside a rubber or plastic covering, which is used to carry electricity or electronic signals.

...overhead power cables.

...strings of coloured lights with weatherproof cable.

3) N-UNCOUNT: oft N n Cable is used to refer to television systems in which the signals are sent along underground wires rather than by radio waves.

They ran commercials on cable systems across the country...

The channel is only available on cable.

4) N-COUNT A cable is the same as a telegram.

She sent a cable to her mother.

5) VERB If you cable someone, you send them a message in the form of a telegram.

[V n with quote] `Don't do it again,' Franklin cabled her when he got her letter...

[V n prep/adv] She had to decide whether or not to cable the news to Louis.

[V n prep/adv] ...a new formula which is being cabled back to capitals for approval. [Also V n, V n n, V with quote, V]

Syn:

wire

6) VERB: usu passive If a country, a city, or someone's home is cabled, cables and other equipment are put in place so that the people there can receive cable television.

[be V-ed] In France, 27 major cities are soon to be cabled...

[V-ed] In the UK, 254,000 homes are cabled.

7) → See also cabling