1. U C （船只、桥梁等上的）巨缆，钢索　thick strong usually metal rope used on ships to support bridges
2. C 电缆　 a set of wires which carry telephone messages, television signals, etc.

　cable　用作名词的基本意思是“钢索”，电讯业中可指“地下电缆”“海底电缆”，引申可表示“电报”，专指从海外通过海底电缆所发的“电报”。

　build〔lay, string〕 ～　铺设电缆
　send a ～　发电报
　electric ～　电缆
　overseas〔submarine〕 ～　海外〔海底〕电缆
　power ～s　电源电缆
　telephone〔telegraph〕 ～　电话〔电报〕电缆
　～ address　电报挂号
　～ car　缆车
　～ gram　海底电报
　by ～　用电报
　～ from〔to〕 　来自〔发往〕…的电报

　The truck used a cable to tow the automobile.　卡车用缆索拖曳汽车。
　The telephone company laid their cables beneath the streets.　电话公司把电缆铺设在街道下面。
　Send a cable to our overseas office.　给我们的海外办事处发个电报。

 ♣ cable, telegram
　参见telegram条。

　vt. & vi.给（某人）发电报，打电报告诉（某人） send (sth) or tell (sb) by telegram

　～ for immediate delivery　打电报要求立即发货
　～ in reply　用电报答复

　Please cable or write.　请来电或来函。
　I'll cable you as soon as I arrive.　我一到就给你发电报。
　She cabled him some money.　她电汇给他一笔钱。
　We cabled the news to London.　我们把消息用电报发往伦敦。
　The news was cabled to his family.　这一消息已电告其家属了。

　［同义词］ n. cablegram, wire line
　［词源］拉丁语capere（抓牢）