Ferry
/ˈfɛri/
Definitions
2 meaningsA vessel used to transport people, vehicles, or goods across a body of water.
/ˈfɛri/
A boat or ship for conveying passengers and vehicles, especially across a body of water.
We took the ferry across the English Channel.
💡 Simply: A ferry is like a big boat that takes you across a river or lake. You can even bring your car on it! Remember that time you went on a ferry to the island? That was fun!
👶 For kids: A ferry is a big boat that takes people and cars across water.
More Examples
The car ferry can carry several vehicles at once.
The ferry service was disrupted due to the storm.
How It's Used
"The ferry provided a scenic route across the bay."
"Tourists often take the ferry to visit the island."
To transport someone or something across a body of water using a ferry.
/ˈfɛri/
To convey or transport by ferry.
The fisherman ferried us to the other side of the lake.
💡 Simply: To ferry means to use a ferry to move people or things across water. Think of a boat carrying a bunch of cars, and people, back and forth, across the water. It's a super useful mode of transport!
👶 For kids: To ferry means to take someone or something in a boat across water.
More Examples
The pilot ferried the dignitaries in a small plane.
During the emergency, they ferried medical supplies to the injured.
How It's Used
"The boat ferried passengers across the river."
"They ferried supplies to the troops."
Idioms & expressions
ferry across
To transport someone or something to the other side of a body of water using a ferry.
"The company ferries passengers across the bay."
ferry service
An established route of ferrying, especially a regular route.
"The city invested in a new ferry service across the river."
From Middle English ferie, ferie, from Old English ferian ('to carry, convey'), from Proto-Germanic *farjaną ('to travel, journey').
The word 'ferry' has been used since the Old English period to describe the act of transporting across water.
Memory tip
Think of 'fairy' - imagine a magical boat carrying people across water.
Word Origin
"to carry, convey"