Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1800-1900
Origin: car 'carriage' (14-19 centuries), from Anglo-French carre, from Latin carrus

car

 noun
     
car
NEW! See related topics: TECHNOLOGYMOTOR VEHICLES
car S1 W1 [countable]
1TTC a vehicle with four wheels and an engine, that can carry a small number of passengersCOLLOCATIONS COLLOCATIONS
by car get in/into a car get out of a car drive a car park a car parked car take the car (=drive it somewhere) car crash/accident car chase car crime police car company car (=a car you are given to use by your company)
I've left my bag in the car.
I always go to work by car.
Dan got out of the car and locked the door.
He isn't old enough to drive a car.
Cars were parked on both sides of the road.
a line of parked cars
You really ought to walk a bit more, rather than taking the car everywhere.
Coughlan was killed in a car accident.
a high-speed car chase through the streets of London
Car crime is the fastest-growing crime.
Police cars circled the building.
! Do not use go in/out with 'car'. Use get in/out: She got into her car (NOT went into her car) and drove off. | 'Stop the car. I want to get out!' (NOT go out)
2

sleeping/dining/buffet car

a train carriage used for sleeping, eating etc
3 American English a train carriage
4T the part of a lift, balloon, or airship in which people or goods are carried
WORD FOCUS: car WORD FOCUS: car
big cars: limousine, people carrier British English, gas-guzzler AmE informal, estate car British English
small cars: compact American English, hatchback British English
other types of car: pickup, van, saloon British English/sedan American English, sports car, convertible, SUV American English, off-roader, four-wheel drive/4x4
where you park your car: garage, car park British English/parking lot American English, multi-storey car park British English, parking space, carport
someone who drives a car: driver, motorist, learner driver
someone who drives a rich or important person's car for them: chauffeur, driver
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
 
Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

ADVERTISING AND MARKETINGANIMALSBANKING
BIOLOGYBUSINESS BASICSCOMPUTERS
CLOTHESDAILY LIFEEDUCATION
FINANCEFOODGRAMMAR
HAIR AND BEAUTYHUMANLAW
MUSICNATURESPORT
STOCKS AND SHARESTECHNOLOGYTRADE