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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Harbour: Definition, Usage & Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：sheltered port (harbour)

harbour 🔊

/ˈhɑː.bər/

A sheltered place on the coast where ships can safely dock or anchor to load/unload goods and find safety from storms.

Harbour definition illustrated: a scenic coastal port with boats at sunset.

sheltered port 🔊

➕

/ˈʃɛltərd pɔːrt/

A place on the coast where ships can find safety and dock.

📁 Category：Transportation & Travel 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'herebeorg' (army shelter), from 'here' (army) + 'beorg' (shelter).

💡 Mnemonic

Remember HARBOUR as a place of HARBORING safety for ships, just as the mind can HARBOR thoughts.

📖 Example

After a long journey, the weary sailors were relieved to see the familiar lights of the harbour ahead. 🔊 After a long journey, the weary sailors were relieved to see the familiar lights of the harbour ahead.

🔗 Collocations

safe harbour – a legally or physically secure port or refuge

natural harbour – a port formed by the natural coastline

harbour master – the official in charge of a port

🔄 Synonyms

port (n.) – a town or city with a harbour where ships load and unload

haven (n.) – a safe place offering refuge or rest

anchorage (n.) – a place where ships can anchor

🚫 Antonyms

open sea (n.) – the part of the sea away from land and safe harbours

exposure (n.) – the state of being unprotected from the elements

📖 Cultural Story

Emerged in Middle English, related to German 'Hafen'. Rooted in the Proto-Indo-European concept of shelter and protection. Culturally, harbours symbolize safety, trade, and arrival, often featured in historical novels and immigration narratives.

Meaning 2：hold onto secretly (harbour)

harbour 🔊

/ˈhɑː.bər/

To secretly keep a thought, feeling, or plan, especially a negative one, in your mind for a long time.

Harbour a feeling: visual metaphor for holding a secret thought or grudge.

hold onto secretly 🔊

➕

/hoʊld ˈɒntuː ˈsiːkrətli/

To keep a thought, feeling, or plan, especially a negative one, concealed in your mind.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Even though they argued years ago, she still harbours some resentment towards her old friend. 🔊 Even though they argued years ago, she still harbours some resentment towards her old friend.

🔗 Collocations

harbour a grudge – to maintain feelings of resentment or ill will

harbour doubts – to secretly have suspicions or uncertainties

harbour suspicions – to privately entertain distrust about someone or something

🔄 Synonyms

cherish (v.) – to hold something dear, often a hope or feeling

nurture (v.) – to care for and encourage the growth of a feeling or idea

entertain (v.) – to hold a thought or feeling in one's mind

🚫 Antonyms

release (v.) – to let go of a thought or feeling

confess (v.) – to openly admit to a thought or feeling

relinquish (v.) – to voluntarily cease to keep or claim