Main Entry: ¹ca·ble

Pronunciation: \ˈkā-bəl\

Function: noun

Usage: often attributive

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin capulum lasso, from Latin capere to take — more at heave

Date: 13th century

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 : cable length
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 : cable television <a house with cable>