taxi

n. [ Gr. &unr_; and &unr_;; &unr_; a division of an army, a brigade (from &unr_; to arrange, array) + to rule. ] (Gr. Antiq.) An Athenian military officer commanding a certain division of an army. Milford. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. an automobile with a professional driver which can be hired to carry passengers; -- also called a taxi, and informally called a cab or a hack. The driver of a taxicab is referred to as a cab driver or cabbie, and sometimes as a chauffeur or hackie. Taxicabs may be engaged by a prior appointment made, e.g. by telephone, or they may cruise for passengers, i.e. they may drive in city streets and stop to pick up pasengers when they are signalled by a prospective passenger. The act of signalling a taxicab (usually by a wave of the arm) is often called
to hail a cab or
to flag down a cab. [ PJC ]

n. [ L. taxus a yew + cornu a horn: cf. F. taxicorne. ] (Zool.) One of a family of beetles (Taxicornes) whose antennae are largest at the tip. Also used adjectively. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. taxidermique. ] Of or pertaining to the art of preparing and preserving the skins of animals. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A person skilled in taxidermy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; an arranging, arrangement (fr. &unr_; to arrange) + &unr_; a skin, from &unr_; to skin: cf. F. taxidermie. See Tactics, Tear, v. t. ] The art of preparing, preserving, and mounting the skins of animals so as to represent their natural appearance, as for cabinets. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. a meter in a taxi that registers the fare (based on the length of the ride). [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L. taxus a yew. ] (Chem.) A poisonous alkaloid of bitter taste extracted from the leaves and seeds of the European yew (Taxus baccata). Called also taxia. The usual preparation is a mixture of compounds. Taxine A has the chemical formula: C35H47NO10. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]