What is "car"

Automobile \Au"to*mo*bile`\, n. [F.] a self-propelled vehicle used for transporting passengers, suitable for use on a street or roadway. Many diferent models of automobiles have beenbuilt and sold commercially, possessing varied features such as a retractable roof (in a convertible), different braking systems, different propulsion systems, and varied styling. Most models have four wheels but some have been built with three wheels. Automobiles are usually propelled by internal combustion engines (using volatile inflammable liquids, as gasoline or petrol, alcohol, naphtha, etc.), and sometimes by steam engines, or electric motors. The power of the driving motor varies from under 50 H. P. for earlier models to over 200 H. P. larger models or high-performance sports or racing cars. An automobile is commonly called a car or an auto, and generally in British usage, motor cars.

Syn: car, auto, machine, motorcar.

Gauge \Gauge\, n. [Written also gage.]

1. A measure; a standard of measure; an instrument to determine dimensions, distance, or capacity; a standard.

   This plate must be a gauge to file your worm and groove to equal breadth by.
   --Moxon.

   There is not in our hands any fixed gauge of minds.
   --I. Taylor.

2. Measure; dimensions; estimate.

   The gauge and dimensions of misery, depression, and contempt.
   --Burke.

3. (Mach. & Manuf.) Any instrument for ascertaining or regulating the dimensions or forms of things; a templet or template; as, a button maker's gauge.

4. (Physics) Any instrument or apparatus for measuring the state of a phenomenon, or for ascertaining its numerical elements at any moment; -- usually applied to some particular instrument; as, a rain gauge; a steam gauge.

5. (Naut.)

   1. Relative positions of two or more vessels with reference to the wind; as, a vessel has the weather gauge of another when on the windward side of it, and the lee gauge when on the lee side of it.

   2. The depth to which a vessel sinks in the water.
      --Totten.

6. The distance between the rails of a railway.

   Note: The standard gauge of railroads in most countries is four feet, eight and one half inches. Wide, or broad, gauge, in the United States, is six feet; in England, seven feet, and generally any gauge exceeding standard gauge. Any gauge less than standard gauge is now called narrow gauge. It varies from two feet to three feet six inches.

7. (Plastering) The quantity of plaster of Paris used with common plaster to accelerate its setting.

8. (Building) That part of a shingle, slate, or tile, which is exposed to the weather, when laid; also, one course of such shingles, slates, or tiles. Gauge of a carriage, car, etc., the distance between the wheels; -- ordinarily called the track. Gauge cock, a stop cock used as a try cock for ascertaining the height of the water level in a steam boiler. Gauge concussion (Railroads), the jar caused by a car-wheel flange striking the edge of the rail. Gauge glass, a glass tube for a water gauge. Gauge lathe, an automatic lathe for turning a round object having an irregular profile, as a baluster or chair round, to a templet or gauge. Gauge point, the diameter of a cylinder whose altitude is one inch, and contents equal to that of a unit of a given measure; -- a term used in gauging casks, etc. Gauge rod, a graduated rod, for measuring the capacity of barrels, casks, etc. Gauge saw, a handsaw, with a gauge to regulate the depth of cut. --Knight. Gauge stuff, a stiff and compact plaster, used in making cornices, moldings, etc., by means of a templet. Gauge wheel, a wheel at the forward end of a plow beam, to determine the depth of the furrow. Joiner's gauge, an instrument used to strike a line parallel to the straight side of a board, etc. Printer's gauge, an instrument to regulate the length of the page. Rain gauge, an instrument for measuring the quantity of rain at any given place. Salt gauge, or Brine gauge, an instrument or contrivance for indicating the degree of saltness of water from its specific gravity, as in the boilers of ocean steamers. Sea gauge, an instrument for finding the depth of the sea. Siphon gauge, a glass siphon tube, partly filled with mercury, -- used to indicate pressure, as of steam, or the degree of rarefaction produced in the receiver of an air pump or other vacuum; a manometer. Sliding gauge. (Mach.)

   1. A templet or pattern for gauging the commonly accepted dimensions or shape of certain parts in general use, as screws, railway-car axles, etc.

   2. A gauge used only for testing other similar gauges, and preserved as a reference, to detect wear of the working gauges.

   3. (Railroads) See Note under Gauge, n., 5. Star gauge (Ordnance), an instrument for measuring the diameter of the bore of a cannon at any point of its length. Steam gauge, an instrument for measuring the pressure of steam, as in a boiler. Tide gauge, an instrument for determining the height of the tides. Vacuum gauge, a species of barometer for determining the relative elasticities of the vapor in the condenser of a steam engine and the air. Water gauge.

      1. A contrivance for indicating the height of a water surface, as in a steam boiler; as by a gauge cock or glass.

      2. The height of the water in the boiler.

         Wind gauge, an instrument for measuring the force of the wind on any given surface; an anemometer.

         Wire gauge, a gauge for determining the diameter of wire or the thickness of sheet metal; also, a standard of size. See under Wire.

c.1300, "wheeled vehicle," from Anglo-French carre, Old North French carre, from Vulgar Latin *carra, related to Latin carrum, carrus (plural carra), originally "two-wheeled Celtic war chariot," from Gaulish karros, a Celtic word (compare Old Irish and Welsh carr "cart, wagon," Breton karr "chariot"), from PIE *krsos, from root *kers- "to run" (see current (adj.)).\n

\n"From 16th to 19th c. chiefly poetic, with associations of dignity, solemnity, or splendour ..." [OED]. Used in U.S. by 1826 of railway freight carriages and of passenger coaches on a railway by 1830; by 1862 of a streetcar or tramway car. Extension to "automobile" is by 1896, but from 1831 to the first decade of 20c. the cars meant "railroad train." Car bomb first 1972, in reference to Northern Ireland. The Latin word also is the source of Italian and Spanish carro, French char.

init. Central African Republic

1. n. 4-wheeled motor vehicle; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine; "he needs a car to get to work" [syn: auto, automobile, machine, motorcar]

2. a wheeled vehicle adapted to the rails of railroad; "three cars had jumped the rails" [syn: railcar, railway car, railroad car]

3. a conveyance for passengers or freight on a cable railway; "they took a cable car to the top of the mountain" [syn: cable car]

4. car suspended from an airship and carrying personnel and cargo and power plant [syn: gondola]

5. where passengers ride up and down; "the car was on the top floor" [syn: elevator car]

Car is a British automotive enthusiast magazine published monthly by Bauer Consumer Media. International editions are published by Bauer Automotive in Brazil, China, Greece, India, Malaysia (since December 2012, through Astro), Mexico, the Middle East, Poland (under the title Cars), Romania, Russia, South Africa (under the title topcar), Spain, Thailand and Turkey. A Japanese counterpart, , is published by Neko Publishing.

Car features a regular group test under the 'Giant Test' name, which was originally developed by the magazine in the 1970s. It also features 'newcomer' first drives of new cars, interviews with significant figures in the motor industry and other features.

A car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers.

Car, Cars, CAR or CARs may also refer to:

Car or Kar is a name in Greek mythology that refers to two characters who may or may not be one and the same.

The name "Car" is unrelated to the English word " car" (vehicle).

Čar is a village in the municipality of Bujanovac, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the town has a population of 296 people.

Car of the Carians , according to Herodotus, was the brother of Lydus and Mysus. He was regarded as the eponymous and ancestral hero of the Carians who would have received their name from the king. He may or may not be the same as Car of Megara

The name "Car" is unrelated to the English word " car" (vehicle).

Car is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:

• Marko Car (disambiguation), multiple people
• Mirosław Car (1960–2013), Polish footballer
• Roberto Car (born 1947), Italian physicist