dashboard

Everyday

1. A dashboard is the panel at the front of a car, under the windscreen, with the speedometer, dials, lights and controls. tree →
2. (computing) A dashboard is a screen on a computer or app that shows the most important information at a glance, often with charts and numbers. tree →
3. (history) On an old horse-drawn carriage, a dashboard was a board at the front to stop mud splashing the driver. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life it is the front of the car; children may be told not to put feet on the dashboard. In computing and maths lessons, a dashboard shows data like scores, weather or website visits in graphs. It tells the reader where information is shown. Phrases: «on the dashboard», «a warning light on the dashboard».

Examples

• Mum checked the speed on the dashboard. tree →
• A red light came on on the dashboard. tree →
• Don't put your feet on the dashboard! tree →
• The satnav is stuck to the dashboard. tree →
• Our class dashboard shows how many books we have read. tree →
• The weather app has a dashboard with temperature and wind speed. tree →
• The teacher's dashboard shows who has finished the quiz. tree →

Note

Countable: a dashboard, dashboards. Also called «dash» informally: «on the dash». In the UK people also say «fascia» for the car part. In safety: never sit with feet on the dashboard, because the airbag comes out of it in a crash.