freight

American  

[freyt] / freɪt /

noun

1. goods, cargo, or lading transported for pay, whether by water, land, or air.

2. the ordinary conveyance or means of transport of goods provided by common carriers (express ).

   Shipping by freight is less expensive.

3. the charges, fee, or compensation paid for such transportation.

   We pay the freight.

   Synonyms:

   haulage, freightage

4. (especially in Britain) the cargo, or any part of the cargo, of a vessel; merchandise transported by water.

5. Chiefly British. transportation of goods by water.

6. freight train.

7. Slang. cost or price, especially when high.

   I'd like a larger house, but can't afford the freight.

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verb (used with object)

1. to load; burden.

   a story heavily freighted with private meaning.

   Synonyms:

   charge

2. to load with goods or merchandise for transportation.

   It took all night to freight the ship.

3. to transport as freight; send by freight.

freight British  

/ freɪt /

noun

1. 1. commercial transport that is slower and cheaper than express

   2. the price charged for such transport

   3. goods transported by this means

   4. ( as modifier )

      freight transport

2. a ship's cargo or part of it

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verb

1. to load with goods for transport

2. to convey commercially as or by freight

3. to load or burden; charge

Related Words

Freight, cargo, shipment refer to goods being transported from place to place. Freight is the general term for goods transported from one place to another by any means: to send freight from New York to New Orleans. Cargo is the term generally used for goods carried by ship or plane: to send a cargo to Europe. Shipment is a quantity of goods destined for a particular place, no matter how sent: a shipment of potatoes.

Other Word Forms

• freightless adjective
• overfreight verb (used with object)
• unfreighted adjective

Etymology

Origin of freight

1350–1400; Middle English freyght (noun), from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German vrecht, variant of vracht. See fraught

Example Sentences

Canadian National Railway CNR 1.85%increase; green up pointing triangle reported higher profit and revenue for the fourth quarter thanks to better freight volumes and improved operational efficiency.

From The Wall Street Journal

Containerships make more port stops and sail at slower speeds to save fuel, pushing most fruit exporters to freight delicate produce by air, which is much more expensive.

From The Wall Street Journal

North America is in a freight recession and demand is at a low level with the market expected to remain weak through the first half, Volvo said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Hundreds of truck drivers began blockading freight border crossings across several Balkan countries on Monday, demanding changes to the European Union visa system that restricts their time in the bloc.

From Barron's

“The Great Shadow” benefits from Ms. Bauer’s keen sense for the way the bodily experience of disease so readily takes on psychological and spiritual freight.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• carriage
• consignment
• merchandise
• payload
• shipment
• shipping
• transportation