cable

Everyday

1. A cable is a thick, strong wire or rope. Cables hold up bridges and pull lifts. tree →
2. A cable is also a set of wires inside a cover that carries electricity, telephone calls, TV or internet. tree →
3. Cable TV is television that comes through cables. tree →

In the lessons

In maths: a length to cut, join or share, measured in metres or feet; or cables counted; cutting into pieces needs one cut fewer than pieces. In science: electric cables are made of copper wire covered with plastic, which does not carry electricity. Safety: never touch a damaged cable or pull a plug by its cable. Phrases: power cable, charging cable, cable car, cable TV, undersea cable.

Examples

• A cable is 12 m long. tree →
• He cuts the cable into 4 equal pieces. tree →
• Each cable costs $6. tree →
• The bridge is held by 40 cables. tree →
• My phone needs a charging cable. tree →
• We rode a cable car up the mountain. tree →
• Never pull a plug out by its cable. tree →
• The internet cable runs under the sea between countries. tree →
• The cable was about as thick as packthread, and the bars of the length and size of a knitting-needle. tree →

Note

Countable: a cable, cables. A length to cut, join or share. Trap: cutting into 4 pieces needs only 3 cuts. Safety: keep cables away from water.