/ kɑː(r); NAmE / (also BrE formal ˈmotor car ) ( NAmE also auto·mo·bile ) noun
1.
a road vehicle with an engine and four wheels that can carry a small number of passengers :
Paula got into the car and drove off.
'How did you come?' ' By car .'
Are you going in the car ?
a car driver / manufacturer / dealer
a car accident / crash
Where can I park the car?
—see also company car
2.
(also rail·car both NAmE ) a separate section of a train :
Several cars went off the rails.
3.
( BrE ) (in compounds) a coach/car on a train of a particular type :
a sleeping / dining car
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the general sense wheeled vehicle ): from Old Northern French carre , based on Latin carrum , carrus , of Celtic origin.