AUTOMOBILE

Pronunciation (US): (GB):

I. (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

Example:

he needs a car to get to work

Synonyms:

auto; automobile; car; machine; motorcar

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("automobile" is a kind of...):

automotive vehicle; motor vehicle (a self-propelled wheeled vehicle that does not run on rails)

Meronyms (parts of "automobile"):

rear window (car window that allows vision out of the back of the car)

anti-sway bar; stabilizer bar (a rigid metal bar between the front suspensions and between the rear suspensions of cars and trucks; serves to stabilize the chassis)

reverse; reverse gear (the gears by which the motion of a machine can be reversed)

roof (protective covering on top of a motor vehicle)

window (a transparent opening in a vehicle that allow vision out of the sides or back; usually is capable of being opened)

sunroof; sunshine-roof (an automobile roof having a sliding or raisable panel)

fin; tail fin; tailfin (one of a pair of decorations projecting above the rear fenders of an automobile)

third; third gear (the third from the lowest forward ratio gear in the gear box of a motor vehicle)

running board (a narrow footboard serving as a step beneath the doors of some old cars)

auto accessory (an accessory for an automobile)

automobile engine (the engine that propels an automobile)

automobile horn; car horn; hooter; horn; motor horn (a device on an automobile for making a warning noise)

air bag (a safety restraint in an automobile; the bag inflates on collision and prevents the driver or passenger from being thrown forward)

buffer; fender (a cushion-like device that reduces shock due to an impact)

bumper (a mechanical device consisting of bars at either end of a vehicle to absorb shock and prevent serious damage)

car door (the door of a car)

car mirror (a mirror that the driver of a car can use)

accelerator; accelerator pedal; gas; gas pedal; gun; throttle (a pedal that controls the throttle valve)

car seat (a seat in a car)

car window (a window in a car)

fender; wing (a barrier that surrounds the wheels of a vehicle to block splashing water or mud)

first; first gear; low; low gear (the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving)

floorboard (the floor of an automobile)

gasoline engine; petrol engine (an internal-combustion engine that burns gasoline; most automobiles are driven by gasoline engines)

glove compartment (compartment on the dashboard of a car)

grille; radiator grille (grating that admits cooling air to car's radiator)

high; high gear (a forward gear with a gear ratio that gives the greatest vehicle velocity for a given engine speed)

bonnet; cowl; cowling; hood (protective covering consisting of a metal part that covers the engine)

automobile trunk; boot; luggage compartment; trunk (compartment in an automobile that carries luggage or shopping or tools)

Domain member category:

hopped-up ((of an automobile) having the engine modified to give extra power)

prang (crash)

chattel; movable; personal chattel (personal as opposed to real property; any tangible movable property (furniture or domestic animals or a car etc))

passenger; rider (a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it)

adhesive friction; grip; traction (the friction between a body and the surface on which it moves (as between an automobile tire and the road))

tunnel (a passageway through or under something, usually underground (especially one for trains or cars))

spark lever ((on early automobiles) a lever mounted on the steering column and used to adjust the timing of the ignition)

saleroom; salesroom; showroom (an area where merchandise (such as cars) can be displayed)

road map (a map showing roads (for automobile travel))

backseat (a seat at the back of a vehicle (especially the seat at the back of an automobile))

alternator (an old term for an electric generator that produces alternating current (especially in automobiles))

rental; renting (the act of paying for the use of something (as an apartment or house or car))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "automobile"):

secondhand car; used-car (a car that has been previously owned; not a new car)

phaeton; tourer; touring car (large open car seating four with folding top)

subcompact; subcompact car (a car smaller than a compact car)

stock car (a car kept in dealers' stock for regular sales)

Stanley Steamer (a steam-powered automobile)

S.U.V.; sport utility; sport utility vehicle; SUV (a high-performance four-wheel drive car built on a truck chassis)

sport car; sports car (a small low car with a high-powered engine; usually seats two persons)

saloon; sedan (a car that is closed and that has front and rear seats and two or four doors)

roadster; runabout; two-seater (an open automobile having a front seat and a rumble seat)

race car; racer; racing car (a fast car that competes in races)

pace car (a high-performance car that leads a parade of competing cars through the pace lap and then pulls off the course)

Model T (the first widely available automobile powered by a gasoline engine; mass-produced by Henry Ford from 1908 to 1927)

minivan (a small box-shaped passenger van; usually has removable seats; used as a family car)

minicar (a car that is even smaller than a subcompact car)

loaner (a car that is lent as a replacement for one that is under repair)

limo; limousine (large luxurious car; usually driven by a chauffeur)

jeep; landrover (a car suitable for traveling over rough terrain)

hot-rod; hot rod (a car modified to increase its speed and acceleration)

horseless carriage (an early term for an automobile)

hatchback (a car having a hatchback door)

hardtop (a car that resembles a convertible but has a fixed rigid top)

gas guzzler (a car with relatively low fuel efficiency)

electric; electric automobile; electric car (a car that is powered by electricity)

cruiser; patrol car; police car; police cruiser; prowl car; squad car (a car in which policemen cruise the streets; equipped with radiotelephonic communications to headquarters)

coupe (a car with two doors and front seats and a luggage compartment)

convertible (a car that has top that can be folded or removed)

compact; compact car (a small and economical car)

cab; hack; taxi; taxicab (a car driven by a person whose job is to take passengers where they want to go in exchange for money)

bus; heap; jalopy (a car that is old and unreliable)

beach waggon; beach wagon; estate car; station waggon; station wagon; waggon; wagon (a car that has a long body and rear door with space behind rear seat)

ambulance (a vehicle that takes people to and from hospitals)

Derivation:

automobile (travel in an automobile)

automobilist (someone who drives (or travels in) an automobile)

II. (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Travel in an automobile

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "automobile" is one way to...):

go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically)

Domain category:

driving (the act of controlling and steering the movement of a vehicle or animal)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

automobile (a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine)

Credits

Context examples:

After half an hour the sun shone again and the grocer's automobile rounded Gatsby's drive with the raw material for his servants' dinner—I felt sure he wouldn't eat a spoonful.