cart
KAHRT
/kɑːrt/
A strong open vehicle with two or four wheels, typically pushed by hand in a store.
In the US, it is a 'shopping cart'; in the UK, it is often called a 'trolley'.
The story behind the word. The word 'cart' has roots in the Old Norse 'kartr', describing a simple two-wheeled vehicle used for hauling goods. The modern shopping cart was invented in 1937 by Sylvan Goldman to help customers buy more items than they could carry in a basket.
Word relationships
- trolley: The standard term in British English for a shopping cart.
- wagon: Usually refers to a four-wheeled vehicle pulled by a handle, often used by children.
Commonly confused with
- basket: A 'basket' is carried by hand, while a 'cart' is pushed on wheels.
Word family
- carting (verb): The act of carrying or moving something in a cart.
- carts (noun): Plural form of cart.
Collocations
- shopping cart
- push a cart
- fill a cart
Idioms & expressions
- put the cart before the horse (to do things in the wrong order)
Example sentences
- "She filled her cart with enough groceries to last the entire month." Shopping
- "Don't forget to check the items in your online shopping cart before paying." Digital Commerce
Memory hook
A cart has wheels to 'carry' your 'art' (or groceries). Cart: Carry All Really Tough stuff.
When not to use
Do not use 'cart' for a motorized vehicle like a car.
Fun facts
- The first shopping carts were actually folding chairs with wheels and baskets attached.
- Men initially refused to use shopping carts because they thought it made them look weak, so the inventor hired male models to use them in his store.
Related words
Also appears in
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.