From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcableca‧ble1 /ˈkeɪbəl/ ●●● W3 noun 1 [countable]TD a plastic or rubber tube containing wires that carry telephone messages, electronic signals, television pictures etc cables and switches for computersoverhead/underground/undersea cable overhead power cables2 [countable, uncountable]TTWTBC a thick strong metal rope used on ships, to support bridges etc3 AMT[uncountable] a system of broadcasting television by using cables, paid for by the person watching iton cable I’ll wait for the movie to come out on cable.cable network/channel/programme4 [countable]TCT a telegramCOLLOCATIONStypes of cablean electric/electricity cableBe careful you don't cut through an electric cable.a power cable (=an electric cable)a power cable carrying 11,000 voltsa telephone cableTelephone cables were damaged in the storm.an overhead cable (=attached to high posts)Overhead cables can be dangerous for birds.an underground/undersea cableThe electricity will be transmitted by undersea cables.verbslay/run a cable (=put one in position somewhere)In the 1860s the first cables were laid under the oceans.a cable connects something to somethingHow many miles of cables connect North America to Europe?
Examples from the Corpus
cable• Cable operators will be able to download software through the cable system into the set-tops.• a cable channel• Additionally, it read all cable traffic entering and leaving Britain.• This was done by cable to Parastaev, who by then was back in Moscow as general-secretary of the Society.• She set off to walk a mile to the mountain cable car on Wednesday.• During the war, obtaining cable traffic presented no problem because of mandatory cable censorship.• Their video-age medicine shows run on dozens of cable and broadcast outlets in the wee hours.• I wonder if an old John Wayne movie is showing on cable?• It is convenient to the railway station and only a 10 minute walk from the Schilthorn cable car.overhead/underground/undersea cable• Our worst experience was when a ladder we were moving from A to B hit an overhead cable.• But what if the message happens to go by undersea cable?• Proton magnetometers are also susceptible to interference from overhead cables.• Now it plans to use its underground cable network to offer customers a telephone service as well.• The section of line between Wilton and Lackenby would carry power from the generators to the main overhead cable via a sub-station.• Oil slicks, overhead cables and pollution are all death traps for birds.• It was the first truly successful undersea cable, continuing in business for the next 24 years.• He claimed his research had shown links between high-voltage overhead cables and cancer clusters.cable network/channel/programme• Two commercial radio broadcasters, two television stations and cable networks provide more news.• Only one in four cable channels managed to gain market share in prime time last year.• Both could assume roles on the new cable network.• The growth of cable networks is even more of a threat.• When he ran a small cable network in San Francisco, Hindery refused to carry the sport.• Hall plays Michael Atwood, a motivated but still far from star announcer working for an all-sports cable network in Atlanta.• His departure from Time Warner coincided with sluggish operating results at the cable channel.• There are now 21 talk shows on daytime television; two cable channels run them around the clock.cablecable2 verb [intransitive, transitive] TCTto send someone a telegramcable somebody something I cabled Mary the good news.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
cable• She cabled her parents and told them she was going to the Salvation Army College in London.From Longman Business Dictionarycableca‧ble /ˈkeɪbəl/ noun1[countable, uncountable] a tube containing wires that carry electronic signals or informationTelecommunications is the transmission of information by cable or radio waves.2[uncountable] (also cable television)TELECOMMUNICATIONS a system of broadcasting television programmes by means of cables under the ground instead of signals through the airAt present it is providing cable television services to only 35,000 customers.Only 2.5 percent of homes had cable installed by mid-1992. → pay cableOrigin cable1 1. (1200-1300) Old North French Medieval Latin capulum “circle of rope for catching animals”, from Latin capere “to take”2. (1800-1900) cablegram 