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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Ferry: Definition, Examples, and Usage Guide (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：a short-distance passenger/vehicle boat (ferry)

ferry 🔊

/ˈfɛri/

A boat that takes people and vehicles across water for a short distance, often on a regular route.

Ferry boat carrying cars across a sunny river

a short-distance passenger/vehicle boat 🔊

➕

/ə ˈʃɔːrt-ˈdɪstəns ˈpæsɪndʒər ˈviːɪkl boʊt/

A boat or ship that regularly carries people, vehicles, or goods across a relatively short stretch of water, typically on a fixed route.

📁 Category：Transportation & Travel 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English ferian (to carry), related to Latin ferre (to bear).

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a 'ferry' boat that 'ferries' people, like a friendly fairy with a boat - both start with 'fer'.

📖 Example

To save time, we decided to ferry across the harbor instead of driving around it. 🔊 To save time, we decided to cross the harbor by ferry instead of driving around it.

🔗 Collocations

take a ferry – to use a ferry as transportation

ferry service – a regular schedule of ferry crossings

car ferry – a ferry designed to transport vehicles

🔄 Synonyms

boat (n.) – A general term for a watercraft of any size, but often smaller than a ship.

barge (n.) – A flat-bottomed boat for carrying freight, typically on canals or rivers, not designed for passengers.

water taxi (n.) – A small boat that carries passengers for a fee, usually on short routes.

🚫 Antonyms

bridge (n.) – A structure built over water to allow crossing without a boat.

tunnel (n.) – An underground passage under water, also a land alternative to ferries.

🌱 Derivatives

ferryman (n.) – A person who operates a ferry.

ferryboat (n.) – A boat used as a ferry.

📖 Cultural Story

Ferry comes from Proto-Germanic *farjaną, meaning 'to cross over'. Historically, ferries have been vital for communities separated by water, from ancient river crossings to modern urban transit like the Staten Island Ferry in New York.

Meaning 2：a ferry station or dock (ferry)

ferry 🔊

/ˈfɛri/

A place where ferries regularly stop to pick up and drop off passengers and vehicles.

Ferry dock with passengers boarding and ticket booth

a ferry station or dock 🔊

➕

/ə ˈfɛri ˈsteɪʃən ɔːr dɑk/

The place where ferries arrive and depart, including the dock, waiting area, and ticket facilities.

📁 Category：Buildings & Places 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

We waited at the ferry for half an hour before the next boat arrived. 🔊 We waited at the ferry dock for half an hour before the next boat arrived.

🔗 Collocations

at the ferry – at the location where ferries dock

ferry terminal – the main building and dock area for ferry services

ferry landing – a simple dock without a large terminal

🔄 Synonyms

wharf (n.) – A structure built on a shore for loading and unloading ships.

pier (n.) – A platform on pillars extending from the shore into the water, used for boarding.

dock (n.) – A waterside area where ships can be moored.

🚫 Antonyms

highway (n.) – A road for vehicles, representing land travel instead of water crossing.

airport (n.) – A place for air travel, an alternative to ferries for crossing long distances.