English Lexicon

Bulk-carrier

/bʌlk ˈkɛrɪər/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #15000 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A type of ship specifically designed to transport bulk cargo, such as grains, coal, or minerals.

    "The bulk-carrier sailed smoothly across the ocean, loaded with tons of wheat."
  2. 2

    A vessel that carries cargo in large quantities without packaging.

    "The bulk-carrier docked at the port to unload its shipment of iron ore."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The term 'bulk-carrier' is derived from the combination of 'bulk', which comes from the Old Norse word 'bölk', meaning 'a mass or large quantity', and 'carrier', which originates from the Latin 'carriare', meaning 'to carry'. The term evolved in the maritime context in the 20th century to describe ships designed to transport unpackaged bulk cargo.

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