ferry [ferryferriesferriedferrying] noun, verb BrE [ˈferi] NAmE [ˈferi] noun (pl. ferries) a boat or ship that carries people, vehicles and goods across a river or across a narrow part of the sea •the cross-channel ferry service •We caught the ferry at Ostend. •the Dover-Calais ferry crossing •the Staten Island ferry
Word Origin: Middle English: from Old Norse ferja ‘ferry boat’, of Germanic origin and related to ↑fare.
Collocations: Travel and tourism Holidays/vacations have/take (BrE) a holiday/(NAmE) a vacation/a break/a day off/(BrE) a gap year go on/be on holiday/vacation/leave/honeymoon/safari/a trip/a tour/a cruise/a pilgrimage go backpacking/camping/hitchhiking/sightseeing plan a trip/a holiday/a vacation/your itinerary book accommodation/a hotel room/a flight/tickets have/make/cancel a reservation/(especially BrE) booking rent a villa/(both BrE) a holiday home/a holiday cottage (especially BrE) hire/ (especially NAmE) rent a car/bicycle/moped stay in a hotel/a bed and breakfast/a youth hostel/a villa/(both BrE) a holiday home/a caravan cost/charge $100 a/per night for a single/double/twin/standard/(BrE) en suite room check into/out of a hotel/a motel/your room pack/unpack your suitcase/bags call/order room service cancel/cut short a trip/holiday/vacation Foreign travel apply for/get/renew a/your passport take out/buy/get travel insurance catch/miss your plane/train/ferry/connecting flight fly (in)/travel in business/economy class make/have a brief/two-day/twelve-hour stopover/(NAmE also) layover in Hong Kong experience/cause/lead to delays check (in)/collect/get/lose (your) (especially BrE) luggage/(especially NAmE) baggage be charged for/pay excess baggage board/get on/leave/get off the aircraft/plane/ship/ferry taxi down/leave/approach/hit/overshoot the runway experience/hit/encounter severe turbulence suffer from/recover from/get over your jet lag/travel sickness The tourist industry attract/draw/bring tourists/visitors encourage/promote/hurt tourism promote/develop ecotourism build/develop/visit a tourist/holiday/(especially BrE) seaside/beach/ski resort work for/be operated by a major hotel chain be served by/compete with low-cost/(especially NAmE) low-fare/budget airlines book sth through/make a booking through/use a travel agent contact/check with your travel agent/tour operator book/be on/go on a package deal/holiday/tour buy/bring back (tacky/overpriced) souvenirs
Example Bank: •The ferry departs at 8 p.m. •The last ferry sails at 4 p.m. •We caught the ferry across the river. •We caught the ferry to Fire Island. •We watched the ferry dock. •We went by night ferry. •a ferry carrying more than a thousand people •the ferries that cross the Mekong River •the ferry between Cape Cod and the islands •the ferry between Dundee and Tayport •the ferry for Italy •the ferry from Ramsgate to Dunkirk •the ferry from Toronto to Rochester •the people on the ferry •the Dover–Calais ferry crossing
verb (fer·ries, ferry·ing, fer·ried, fer·ried)transitive, intransitive ~ (sb/sth) (+ adv./prep.) to carry people or goods in a boat or other vehicle from one place to another, often for a short distance and as a regular service •He offered to ferry us across the river in his boat. •The children need to be ferried to and from school. Verb forms:
Word Origin: Middle English: from Old Norse ferja ‘ferry boat’, of Germanic origin and related to ↑fare.
Example Bank: •You really don't have to ferry us around while we're in town.
(pl. ferries)