car S1 W1 /kɑː $ kɑːr/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Origin: car 'carriage' (14-19 centuries) , from Anglo-French carre , from Latin carrus ]
1 . a vehicle with four wheels and an engine, that can carry a small number of passengers:
Dan got out of the car and locked the door.
He isn’t old enough to drive a car.
by car
I always go to work by car.
Coughlan was killed in a car accident.
2 . sleeping/dining/buffet car a train carriage used for sleeping, eating etc
3 . American English a train carriage
4 . the part of a lift, ↑ balloon , or ↑ airship in which people or goods are carried
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ go/travel by car
I try to use public transport instead of going by car.
▪ get in/into a car
The man stopped and she got into the car.
▪ get out of a car
He got out of the car and went into the newsagent’s.
▪ drive a car
In England you can learn to drive a car when you are 17.
▪ have/own a car
Do you have a car?
▪ run a car (=have a car and pay for the petrol, repairs etc it needs)
People on low incomes can’t afford to run a car.
▪ take the car (=use a car to go somewhere)
Is it all right if I take the car this evening?
▪ park a car
She parked the car by the side of the road.
▪ back/reverse a car (=make it move backwards)
Suzy backed the car into the driveway.
▪ lose control of the car (=no longer be able to control its direction)
He lost control of the car on a sharp bend.
▪ a car passes/overtakes somebody
A small black car overtook me on my left.
▪ a car drives off/away
The police car drove off at top speed.
▪ a car pulls out (=moves away from the side of the road)
A car suddenly pulled out in front of me.
▪ a car slows down
The car slowed down and stopped outside our house.
▪ a car pulls up (=stops)
Why’s that police car pulling up here?
▪ a car pulls over (=stops on the side of a road)
▪ a car breaks down (=stops working because something is wrong with it)
On the way home on the motorway the car broke down.
▪ a car stalls (=stops working for a short time until you start it again)
My car stalled at the traffic lights.
▪ a car hits something/crashes into something
I saw the car leave the road and hit a tree.
▪ a car skids (=slides sideways in a way you cannot control)
If it’s icy, the car might skid.
■ car + NOUN
▪ a car crash/accident ( also a car wreck American English )
He was involved in a car crash.
▪ a car park
She couldn’t find a space in the car park.
▪ a car door/engine/key etc
She left the car engine running.
▪ the car industry
The car industry suffers in times of economic decline.
▪ a car manufacturer/maker
He works for the German car manufacturer, Mercedes.
▪ a car driver
Every year 1500 car drivers and passengers die in road accidents.
▪ a car dealer (=someone who buys and sells used cars)
Car dealers reported a 4% drop in sales.
▪ a car chase
The best bit in the movie was the car chase through the city.
▪ car crime British English
Car crime in the area has risen rapidly.
▪ a car bomb (=a bomb hidden in or under a car)
A car bomb exploded killing 33 people.
■ adjectives
▪ a used/second-hand car (=one that is not new)
The company locates suitable new and used cars for buyers.
▪ a sports car (=a low fast car)
He was driving a red sports car.
▪ an estate car British English (=one with a door at the back and folding seats)
Once you have children, an estate car is very useful.
▪ a racing car ( also a race car American English )
He became a racing car driver.
▪ a police car
The vehicle was being chased by a police car.
▪ a company car (=one that your company gives you to use)
She was given a company car.
▪ a hire car British English , a rental car American English
We picked up a hire car at the airport.