Meaning & use
the cable
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Meanings
noununcountable
cable television, especially as a service that provides many channels through a wire or satellite.
Grammar: Used with 'the' to mean the service in general; no plural.
Patterns
- on the cable
- get the cable
- the cable company
We switched to the cable because the antenna only picked up two channels.
The cable offers hundreds of channels, but we only watch a few.
Many people are canceling the cable and streaming instead.
nouncountable
a thick, strong wire or rope made of twisted metal or fiber, used for carrying electricity, supporting structures, or sending signals.
Grammar: Countable; use 'a cable' for one, 'cables' for more than one.
Patterns
- a cable
- cables
- by cable
The bridge is held up by steel cables.
A loose cable caused the internet to go down.
They laid a new cable under the street.
Word forms
| plural | cables |
|---|
Common combinations
- cable TV
- Cable TV was the only way to get that channel.
- cable company
- The cable company raised its prices again.
- cable car
- We took a cable car up the mountain.
- cable channel
- That show is on a cable channel, not network TV.
- cut the cable
- Many families have cut the cable to save money.
Synonyms and how they differ
- cable television
- The full, more formal term; 'the cable' is shorter and more informal.
- pay TV
- Focuses on the fact that you pay for it; 'the cable' specifically suggests the wire or system.
Word family
Commonly confused: the cable or the cord?
the cable vs the cord
A cord is a thin, flexible wire, often for a small device; a cable is usually thicker and stronger.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'the cable' correctly to mean the television service?
Choose one answer.
Only option 0 refers to the cable television service. The other options refer to a physical wire, which is a different sense.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “the cable”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.