A taxi is a car that you can hire to take you somewhere, with a driver who knows the area well. The word is short for taxicab or taximeter cab, where the taximeter is the device that measures distance and calculates the fare. When you need a ride across town, you might hail a taxi by standing at the curb and raising your hand, or call a taxi company to send one to your location.

Taxis have been around for over a century. Before cars, people hired horse-drawn carriages called hansom cabs. In most cities, taxis are painted a distinctive color (like New York’s famous yellow cabs) so you can spot them easily. The driver turns on the meter when you get in, and it clicks up the price based on distance and time. When you reach your destination, you pay the fare shown on the meter, often adding a tip for the driver.

The word taxi is also a verb meaning to move slowly along the ground, especially for aircraft. Before an airplane takes off, it taxis down the runway to reach the starting position. After landing, it taxis back to the gate. The plane moves under its own power but stays on the ground, rolling forward like a car in a parking lot.