harbour

[ hahr-ber ]

noun

, Chiefly British.

1. harbor.

harbour

/ ˈhɑːbə /

noun

1. a sheltered port
2. a place of refuge or safety

verb

1. tr to give shelter to

   to harbour a criminal

2. tr to maintain secretly

   to harbour a grudge

3. to shelter (a vessel) in a harbour or (of a vessel) to seek shelter

Spelling Note

See -or ¹.

Derived Forms

• ˈharbourless, adjective
• ˈharbourer, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of harbour¹

Old English herebeorg, from here troop, army + beorg shelter; related to Old High German heriberga hostelry, Old Norse herbergi

Example Sentences

In Auckland, it took an estimated 5,000 marchers two hours to cross the harbour bridge.

From BBC

The Isle of Lewis had also suffered the Iolaire disaster in 1919 when 200 servicemen from the island had drowned at the mouth of Stornoway harbour, coming home for the first new year of peace.

From BBC

A plan to charter an extra large vessel, MV Ben-My-Chree, from the Isle of Man Steam Package Company was dashed last week when the ship was unable to berth safely at Brodick harbour on Arran.

From BBC

No-one will know what would have transpired had Alonso been tempted by the pull of Liverpool, but few of a red persuasion harbour any regrets or look back with sorrow as they not only sit top of the Premier League but also at the summit of the new Champions League format as the Bundesliga side were swept aside 4-0 at Anfield.

From BBC

The bay is also home to harbour porpoise, Atlantic grey seals and a variety of bird life including razorbills and guillemots.

From BBC