often attributive
1
a
: a strong rope especially of 10 inches (25 centimeters) or more in circumference
b
: a cable-laid rope
c
: a wire rope or metal chain of great tensile strength
d
: a wire or wire rope by which force is exerted to control or operate a mechanism
2
3
a
: an assembly of electrical conductors insulated from each other but laid up together (as by being twisted around a central core)
b
: cablegram
also
: a radio message or telegram
4
: something resembling or fashioned like a cable
a fiber-optic cable
5
a
: cable television
a house with cable
b
: a cable infrastructure used to provide services other than television
—often used before another noun
cable Internet
cable telephony
cabled; cabling
ˈkā-b(ə-)liŋ 
1
: to fasten with or as if with a cable
2
: to provide with a cable or cables
3
: to telegraph by submarine cable
4
: to make into a cable or into a form resembling a cable
: to communicate by a submarine cable
cabler
noun
ˈkā-b(ə-)lər
Examples of cable in a Sentence
Noun
The bridge is held up by cables.
Their company supplied cable for the project.
We need more cable to hook up the computers.
Verb
She cabled the news to the United States.
She cabled her parents for money.
The soldiers cabled back to headquarters.
Recent Examples on the Web
Todd Spangler, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024
This is the best long cable in our best USB-C cables guide.
—Simon Hill, WIRED, 22 Nov. 2024
Erika Tulfo, CNN, 16 Oct. 2024
Users can cable to a computer via HDMI or DisplayPort, but the screen also comes with dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity for wireless sharing over AirPlay or Miracast.
—Paul Ridden, New Atlas, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cable 
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Noun
DirecTV launched in 1994 and Dish followed in 1996, and the two satellite TV companies provided robust competition to incumbent cable TV operators.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024
This is the best long cable in our best USB-C cables guide.
—Simon Hill, WIRED, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
That includes everything from gym memberships to digital streaming and e-commerce to cable TV service.
—Erika Tulfo, CNN, 16 Oct. 2024
Users can cable to a computer via HDMI or DisplayPort, but the screen also comes with dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity for wireless sharing over AirPlay or Miracast.
—Paul Ridden, New Atlas, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cable
Dictionary Entries Near cable
Cite this Entry
“Cable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cable. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cable
1 of 2 noun
ca·ble
ˈkā-bəl
1
: a very strong thick rope, wire, or chain
2
: a wire or wire rope by which force is applied to operate a piece of machinery
brake cable
3
: a bundle of electrical wires held together usually around a central core
4
5
cable
2 of 2 verb
cabled; cabling
ˈkā-b(ə-)liŋ
1
: to fasten or provide with a cable
2
: to telegraph by cable
Biographical Definition
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