car

car
car S1 W1 /kɑː $ kɑːr/ noun [countable]
1. a vehicle with four wheels and an engine, that can carry a small number of passengers:
    Dan got out of the car and locked the door.
    He isn’t old enough to drive a car.
    by car
    I always go to work by car.
    Coughlan was killed in a car accident.
2. sleeping/dining/buffet car a train carriage used for sleeping, eating etc
3. American English a train carriage
4. the part of a lift, balloon, or airship in which people or goods are carried
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ verbs
   ▪ go/travel by car I try to use public transport instead of going by car.
   ▪ get in/into a car The man stopped and she got into the car.
   ▪ get out of a car He got out of the car and went into the newsagent’s.
   ▪ drive a car In England you can learn to drive a car when you are 17.
   ▪ have/own a car Do you have a car?
   ▪ run a car (=have a car and pay for the petrol, repairs etc it needs) People on low incomes can’t afford to run a car.
   ▪ take the car (=use a car to go somewhere) Is it all right if I take the car this evening?
   ▪ park a car She parked the car by the side of the road.
   ▪ back/reverse a car (=make it move backwards) Suzy backed the car into the driveway.
   ▪ lose control of the car (=no longer be able to control its direction) He lost control of the car on a sharp bend.
   ▪ a car passes/overtakes somebody A small black car overtook me on my left.
   ▪ a car drives off/away The police car drove off at top speed.
   ▪ a car pulls out (=moves away from the side of the road) A car suddenly pulled out in front of me.
   ▪ a car slows down The car slowed down and stopped outside our house.
   ▪ a car pulls up (=stops) Why’s that police car pulling up here?
   ▪ a car pulls over (=stops on the side of a road)
   ▪ a car breaks down (=stops working because something is wrong with it) On the way home on the motorway the car broke down.
   ▪ a car stalls (=stops working for a short time until you start it again) My car stalled at the traffic lights.
   ▪ a car hits something/crashes into something I saw the car leave the road and hit a tree.
   ▪ a car skids (=slides sideways in a way you cannot control) If it’s icy, the car might skid.
■ car + NOUN
   ▪ a car crash/accident (also a car wreck American English) He was involved in a car crash.
   ▪ a car park She couldn’t find a space in the car park.
   ▪ a car door/engine/key etc She left the car engine running.
   ▪ the car industry The car industry suffers in times of economic decline.
   ▪ a car manufacturer/maker He works for the German car manufacturer, Mercedes.
   ▪ a car driver Every year 1500 car drivers and passengers die in road accidents.
   ▪ a car dealer (=someone who buys and sells used cars) Car dealers reported a 4% drop in sales.
   ▪ a car chase The best bit in the movie was the car chase through the city.
   ▪ car crime British English Car crime in the area has risen rapidly.
   ▪ a car bomb (=a bomb hidden in or under a car) A car bomb exploded killing 33 people.
■ adjectives
   ▪ a used/second-hand car (=one that is not new) The company locates suitable new and used cars for buyers.
   ▪ a sports car (=a low fast car) He was driving a red sports car.
   ▪ an estate car British English (=one with a door at the back and folding seats) Once you have children, an estate car is very useful.
   ▪ a racing car (also a race car American English) He became a racing car driver.
   ▪ a police car The vehicle was being chased by a police car.
   ▪ a company car (=one that your company gives you to use) She was given a company car.
   ▪ a hire car British English, a rental car American English We picked up a hire car at the airport.