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

The star of the film was Glenn Ford, but I barely noticed him.

From The Daily Beast

The first day of Liberty, I was hanging around waiting for Ford to come in.

From The Daily Beast

Harold Ford Jr. is a former U.S. Representative from Tennessee.

From The Daily Beast

Ford Madox Ford raged against English novelists from Henry Fielding to George Meredith.

From The Daily Beast

I have set aside the next six years to write a biography of Gerald Ford.

From The Daily Beast

During this day the party had to cross a river which was too deep to ford, and over which there was no sort of bridge.

From Project Gutenberg

Passing some way along the water side, he found the banks high and the water deep, and no ford but the one he had crossed.

From Project Gutenberg

He kept the ford; and, when his men came up, they found fourteen slain, and the rest in retreat.

From Project Gutenberg

And soon the wooded hills were dotted with small herds moving toward the ford.

From Project Gutenberg

Soon the ford was filled, and the reindeer began to press up the narrow river valley.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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