ford

¹

[ fawrd, fohrd ]

noun

1. a place where a river or other body of water is shallow enough to be crossed by wading.

verb (used with object)

1. to cross (a river, stream, etc.) at a ford.

Ford

²

[ fawrd, fohrd ]

noun

1. Elizabeth Bloomer Betty, 1918–2011, U.S. First Lady 1974–77 (wife of Gerald R. Ford).
2. Ford Mad·ox [mad, -, uh, ks], Ford Madox Hueffer, 1873–1939, English novelist, poet, critic, and editor.
3. Gerald R(udolph, Jr.) Leslie Lynch King, Jr., 1913–2006, U.S. political leader: congressman 1948–73; vice president 1973–74; 38th president of the U.S. 1974–77.
4. Guy Stanton, 1873–1963, U.S. historian, educator, and editor.
5. Henry, 1863–1947, U.S. automobile manufacturer.
6. John, 1586?–c1640, English playwright.
7. John Sean O'Feeney, 1895–1973, U.S. film director.
8. a male given name.

Ford

¹

/ fɔːd /

noun

1. FordFord Madox18731939MEnglishWRITING: novelistWRITING: editorWRITING: critic Ford Maddox (ˈmædəks) original name Ford Madox Hueffer . 1873–1939, English novelist, editor, and critic; works include The Good Soldier (1915) and the war tetralogy Parade's End (1924–28).
2. FordGeraldR(udolph)19132006MUSPOLITICS: politicianPOLITICS: head of state Gerald R ( udolph ). 1913–2006, US politician; 38th president of the US (1974–77)
3. FordHarrison1942MUSFILMS AND TV: actor Harrison . born 1942, US film actor. His films include Star Wars (1977) and its sequels, Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and its sequels, Bladerunner (1982), Clear and Present Danger (1994), and What Lies Beneath (2000)
4. FordHenry18631947MUSBUSINESS: manufacturer Henry . 1863–1947, US car manufacturer, who pioneered mass production
5. FordJohn1586?1639MEnglishTHEATRE: dramatist John . 1586–?1639, English dramatist; author of revenge tragedies such as 'Tis Pity She's a Whore (1633)
6. FordJohn18951973MUSFILMS AND TV: director John , real name Sean O'Feeney . 1895–1973, US film director, esp of Westerns such as Stagecoach (1939) and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)

ford

²

/ fɔːd /

noun

1. a shallow area in a river that can be crossed by car, horseback, etc

verb

1. tr to cross (a river, brook, etc) over a shallow area

Derived Forms

• ˈfordable, adjective

Other Words From

• forda·ble adjective
• un·forda·ble adjective
• un·forded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ford¹

before 900; Middle English (noun), Old English; cognate with Old Frisian forda, German Furt; akin to Old Norse fjǫrthr, fare, port ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of ford¹

Old English; related to Old Frisian forda , Old High German furt ford, Latin porta door, portus port ¹

Example Sentences

For decades, cars have been splashing through a notorious ford to the delight of onlookers, making it both a tourist attraction and social media sensation.

From BBC

Klemperer and his colleagues, including collaborators in China, traversed dirt roads and forded streams to collect samples from some 200 natural springs across nearly 1000 kilometers of southern Tibet.

From Science Magazine

On Wednesday, a van driver in north Essex had a "lucky escape" after his vehicle ended up in a flooded ford.

From BBC

A taxi driver said he was "fully freezing" after his car filled with water at a ford notorious for flooding.

From BBC

Chris Ford, who lives nearby, said the men were participating in an off-roading group when they tried to ford the river at Rake Lane.

From BBC

Related Words

• cruise
• cut across
• navigate
• pass over
• ply
• sail
• span
• traverse