cab|i|net

cab|i|net «KAB uh niht, KAB niht», noun, adjective.

–n.

1. a) a piece of furniture with shelves or drawers, used to hold articles, such as dishes, linens, jewels, papers, or specimens: »

a medicine cabinet, a filing cabinet for letters. Mother keeps her good dishes in the china cabinet.

b) a case for a radio, television set, phonograph, or other electronic equipment; console.

2. Also, Cabinet. a) a group of advisers chosen by the head of a nation to help in the government. The Attorney General and the Secretary of Defense are members of the cabinet of the President of the United States. »

This will be the second meeting of the Cabinet since Parliament adjourned for the summer recess (London Times).

SYNONYM(S): ministry. b) Archaic. the private room in which the cabinet members of a state meet for deliberation. c) Archaic. a meeting in such a room.

3. Archaic. a small private room; boudoir.

4. Obsolete. a little cabin, hut, or cottage.

5. Obsolete. a summerhouse or leafy shelter in a garden.

–adj.

1. of or having to do with a political cabinet: »

a cabinet meeting of government ministers.

2. private; secret; confidential: »

cabinet decisions.

3. of such beauty, value, or size as to be suited for a private room or for keeping in a case: »

a cabinet edition.

4. of or having to do with a cabinetmaker or cabinetmaking: »

cabinet woodwork.

╂[< Middle French cabinet < Italian cabinetto, or gabinetto, perhaps < gabbia cage < Latin cavea]