minicab
Definition
Noun: A private hire vehicle, typically a car smaller than a standard taxi, which must be pre-booked and cannot be legally hailed on the street.
Usage
A "minicab" is a type of transportation service. The key distinction is that it cannot pick up passengers without a prior booking. * You must call a minicab company to arrange a ride. * In London, black cabs can be hailed, but minicabs cannot.
Examples
- Noun:
- I've booked a minicab to take us to the airport.
- It's safer to use a licensed minicab service rather than an unlicensed car.
- The fare for the minicab was cheaper than a black taxi.
Advanced Usage
- The term is particularly common in British English. In other regions, similar services may be called "car services," "private hire vehicles," or "ride-sourcing" services (e.g., Uber, which operates under minicab/private hire regulations in the UK).
- "Minicab firm" or "minicab office": Refers to the company that operates the fleet of minicabs.
- He works as a dispatcher for a local minicab firm.
Variants and Related Words
- Cab (n): A general term for a taxi. A minicab is a specific type of cab.
- Taxi (n): A vehicle licensed to pick up passengers without a prior booking (e.g., from a taxi rank or by being hailed).
- Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) (n): The official, legal term often used interchangeably with "minicab" in regulations.
Synonyms
- Private hire car
- Car service vehicle (in some contexts)
Related Phrases
- To book a minicab: The standard phrase for arranging the service.
- We need to book a minicab for 6 AM.
- Licensed minicab: Emphasizes that the vehicle and driver are officially authorized, which is important for safety.
- Always check that you are getting into a licensed minicab.
Noun
-
a minicar used as a taxicab
