Noun

Singular cable

Plural cables

cable (plural cables)

1. A strong, large-diameter wire or rope, or something resembling such a rope.
2. An assembly of two or more cable-laid ropes
3. An assembly of two or more wires, used for electrical power or data circuits; one or more and/or the whole may be insulated.
4. (nautical) A heavy rope or chain of at least 10 inches thick, as used to moor or anchor a ship
5. (communications) A system for receiving television or Internet service over coaxial or fibreoptic cables

   I tried to watch the movie last night but my cable was out.

6. Short for cable television, broadcast over the above network, not by antenna
7. A telegram, notably when send by (submarine) telegraph cable
8. (nautical) A unit of length equal to one tenth of a nautical mile
9. (finance) The currency pair British Pound against United States Dollar

Synonyms

• wire rope
• cord
• (telegram) cablegram
• (nautical unit) cable length

Antonyms

• (nautical rope) hawser (thinner)

Derived terms

• cablecar
• cablegram
• cable-laid
• cable television
• cableway
• chain-cable

Related terms

• cablet

A cable is two or more wires running side by side and bonded, twisted or braided together to form a single assembly. In mechanics cables, otherwise known as wire ropes, are used for lifting, hauling and towing or conveying force through tension. In electrical engineering cables used to carry electric currents. An optical cable contains one or more optical fibers in a protective jacket that supports the fibers.

Electric cables discussed here are mainly meant for installation in buildings and industrial sites. For power transmission at distances greater than a few kilometres see high voltage cable, power cables and HVDC.