US /fɔːrd/ UK /fɔːd/
noun verb Freq #4338

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    a shallow place in a river or stream where people, animals, or vehicles can cross without a bridge

    The riders followed the track to a ford where the water reached the horses' knees.

  2. 2
    verb

    to cross a river or stream at a shallow place

    The expedition waited for the flood to fall before attempting to ford the river.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · a shallow place in a river... shallow crossingcrossing place
2 verb · to cross a river or stream... wade acrosscross
Word family
Derived forms fordable
Related forms wadecausewaybridge

Etymology

From Old English ford, related to faran, 'to go or travel.' The noun originally named a place of passage through water; the verb developed from using such a crossing.

Topics

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