What does "car" mean?
Car: A vehicle adapted to the rails of a railroad. [U. S.] Note: In England a railroad passenger car is called a railway carriage; a freight car a goods wagon; a platform car a goods truck; a baggage car a van. But styles of car introduced into England from America are called cars; as, tram car. Pullman car. See Train.
Additional senses
- 2.A chariot of war or of triumph; a vehicle of splendor, dignity, or solemnity. [Poetic]. The gilded car of day. Milton. The towering car, the sable steeds. Tennyson.
- 3.(Astron.) The stars also called Charles's Wain, the Great Bear, or the Dipper. The Pleiads, Hyads, and the Northern Car. Dryden.
- 4.The cage of a lift or elevator.
- 5.The basket, box, or cage suspended from a ballon to contain passengers, ballast, etc.
- 6.A floating perforated box for living fish. [U. S.] Car coupling, or Car coupler, a shackle or other device for connecting the cars in a railway train. [U. S.] -- Dummy car (Railroad), a car containing its own steam power or locomotive. -- Freight car (Railrood), a car for the transportation of merchandise or other goods. [U. S.] -- Hand car (Railroad), a small car propelled by hand, used by railroad laborers, etc. [U. S.] -- Horse car, or Street car, an ommibus car, draw by horses or other power upon rails laid in the streets. [U. S.] -- Palace car, Drawing- room car, Sleeping car, Parior caretc. , (Railroad), cars especially designed and furnished for the comfort of travelers.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
- Canonical URL: https://worddirectanswers.com/answers/what-does-car-mean
- Steward: Jason Burns
- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00