# cab

/ˈkæb/ (US) · /kˈæb/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cab
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a taxi

noun · CEFR A2

a car and driver that you pay to take you from one place to another.

For teachers: a vehicle for public hire, typically a motor car, used for transporting passengers in exchange for a fare.

- It was raining heavily, so we decided to take a cab to the restaurant.
- Finding a cab during the transit strike proved nearly impossible, forcing many commuters to walk several miles to their offices.

### 2. driver's compartment

noun · CEFR B2

the small room at the front of a truck, train, or crane where the driver sits.

For teachers: the enclosed compartment of a truck, locomotive, or other heavy machinery designed for the operator.

- The truck driver kept a photo of his family on the dashboard of his cab.
- The modern locomotive cab is equipped with sophisticated digital displays that monitor engine performance and track conditions in real time.

### 3. red wine

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a short way of saying Cabernet Sauvignon, a popular type of red wine.

For teachers: a common clipping for Cabernet Sauvignon, referring either to the grape variety or the wine produced from it.

- Would you like a glass of cab with your steak?
- The sommelier suggested a full-bodied cab to complement the rich flavours of the roasted lamb.

### 4. to travel by taxi

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to go somewhere using a taxi.

For teachers: to travel or be transported via taxicab; often used in the progressive form.

- We cabbed it across town to make sure we weren't late for the show.
- Rather than navigating the unfamiliar subway system, the tourists opted to cab to the museum.

## Examples

- I need to call a cab to get to the airport.
- After the train service stopped for the night, we had to take a cab back to our hotel.
- The city's narrow streets were perpetually clogged with yellow cabs, their horns creating a constant rhythmic backdrop to the morning commute.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.