Definition

Noun: - A police patrol car: A vehicle used by police officers to patrol streets and neighborhoods. It is typically equipped with radio communication equipment to maintain contact with the police headquarters or dispatch center.

Usage

• The term "prowl car" is a specific, somewhat dated term for a police patrol vehicle. It emphasizes the action of cruising or "prowling" the streets to monitor for crime or disturbances.
• It is used as a countable noun.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• The term can evoke a sense of surveillance or a methodical search, as "to prowl" means to move around stealthily.
• It is less common in contemporary everyday language than terms like "patrol car," "squad car," or "police car."

Variants and Related Words

• Patrol car (n): The more common modern synonym for a police vehicle used for routine patrols.
• Squad car (n): Another common synonym for a police car, often used in American English.
• Cruiser (n): A colloquial term for a police patrol car.

Synonyms

• Patrol car
• Squad car
• Police car
• Cruiser

Related Phrases

• To be on patrol: Refers to the activity the officers in the prowl car are performing.
  • The prowl car was on patrol in the downtown area.

Noun

1. a car in which policemen cruise the streets; equipped with radiotelephonic communications to headquarters