Difference between cables and ropes

A wire rope is simply a number of single strand wires braided or twisted to form a larger compound unit. (much like fiber ropes) Wire ropes are always exclusively made of metal. Cables on the other hand can be a wire rope, but they can also be multi-material and non metallic such as the phone cable running to your house. Wire ropes is a subset of cables.

Cord, cordage, rope, webbing products consist of braided, woven or twisted fibers in a long length for lifting or other applications. Depending on the performance requirement, the fibers can be synthetic polymer (nylon, polyester), natural (cotton, jute), metallic (stainless steel, carbon steel, Monel) and/or even ceramic. Cord or cordage is typically used for natural or synthetic fiber products. Wire rope is commonly used to describe rope manufactured from metallic fibers. There are even several trade associations related to wire rope such as the Wire Rope Fabricators Association.

A rope is made of fiber. Why then would the chairlift operators call it a "Ropeway" when a cable is clearly used?

The answer has to do with history. Before chairlifts, "Ski tows" were the most common way to get to the top of a slope. Ski tows are a motor-driven conveyor that is used for pulling skiers up a slope and that consists usually of an endless moving rope which a skier grasps. These are also called ropeways

Chairlifts, sometimes are called "aerial ropeways", were simply an innovation on this old idea. The fact that they didn't use "rope" was incidental, the function was the same. Old names are usually extended to new ideas, even if they aren't a perfect fit. This is a common theme in linguistics.

Main Entry: 1rope Pronunciation: 'rOp Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English rAp; akin to Old High German reif hoop 1 a : a large stout cord of strands of fibers or wire twisted or braided together b : a long slender strip of material used as rope c : a hangman's noose d : LARIAT 2 : a row or string consisting of things united by or as if by braiding, twining, or threading 3 plural : special or basic techniques or procedures

Thanks everyone for your answers. I just went surfing on the Wire Rope Assosiation website and found a link to : http://www.domesticwirerope.org/ very interesting information, for those interested!! Thanks again for your "enlightened" answers! cynthia