Definition

1. Noun:
   • A cable used to distribute electricity: A thick, insulated wire or bundle of wires designed to carry electrical power from a source, such as a generator or grid, to a point of consumption, like a building, machine, or appliance.

Usage

• The term "power cable" refers specifically to the physical conductor of electrical energy. It is a standard technical term in electrical engineering, construction, and everyday contexts involving electrical infrastructure.
• It is typically used to describe fixed installations (e.g., underground, in walls) or heavy-duty flexible cables for industrial equipment.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The electrician is installing a new power cable to the workshop.
  • Damaged power cables caused a blackout in the neighborhood.
  • Ensure the power cable is unplugged before servicing the device.

Advanced Usage

• "To lay/run a power cable": To install a power cable along a specific route.
  • The company will run a new power cable under the street.
• "Power cable management": The organization and securing of cables for safety and aesthetics.
  • Good power cable management prevents tripping hazards.

Variants and Related Words

• Power cord (n): A flexible power cable, often with a plug, used to connect an appliance to a wall outlet. (e.g., )
• Mains cable (n): A power cable connected to the public electricity supply (the mains).
• Feeder cable (n): A main power cable that distributes electricity to subsidiary circuits.
• Electrical wire (n): A more general term for any conductor of electricity, which can be part of a power cable or used for lower-voltage signals.

Synonyms

• Electrical cable: A general synonym, though it can also include cables for data or communications.
• Power line: Often refers to overhead cables on utility poles, but can be used more broadly.

Related Phrases

• Power cable harness (n): A bundled arrangement of multiple power cables and wires.
  • The car's engine uses a complex power cable harness.
• Power cable gland (n): A device used to secure and seal the end of a power cable where it enters an enclosure.
  • Seal the power cable with a waterproof gland.

Notes

• "Power cable" is a compound noun. Its meaning is specific and should not be confused with "data cable" or "communication cable," which are designed for transmitting signals, not electrical power for operation.
• The hyphenated form "power-cable" is less common and typically used only when the term functions as a compound adjective (e.g., ). The standard form is the two-word noun "power cable."

Noun

1. cable used to distribute electricity