ˈkæ.bɪ.nɪt ˈkæ.bɪ.nɪt ˈkɒn.səʊl a piece of furniture resembling a cupboard with doors and shelves and drawers; for storage or display housing for electronic instruments, as radio or television a storage compartment for clothes and valuables; usually it has a lock persons appointed by a head of state to head executive departments of government and act as official advisers