cargo
n. · v.-
1 freight or goods (n.) B1 Intermediatethe goods that a ship, plane, or truck carries to a destination.
the goods or merchandise conveyed in a ship, aircraft, or motor vehicle. Often used as a collective noun for the entire load.
ExampleThe ship was carrying a heavy cargo of oil and gas across the ocean.
ExampleThe freighter was forced to remain in the harbour until the customs officials had finished inspecting the entire cargo for prohibited items.
UsageOften used as an uncountable noun when referring to the total volume of goods.
-
2 clothing style (n.) B1 Intermediatea style of trousers with many large pockets on the sides of the legs.
a style of rugged trousers or shorts characterized by multiple large, utilitarian exterior pockets. Usually used as an attributive noun in 'cargo pants' or 'cargo shorts'.
ExampleHe wore cargo pants so he could carry his tools and phone in the side pockets.
ExampleThe fashion trend saw a resurgence of cargo trousers, originally designed for military utility but now adopted for urban streetwear.
UsageTypically functions as an adjective or attributive noun before 'pants', 'shorts', or 'trousers'.
- combat trousers
Show 1 more senseShow fewer
-
3 to load goods (v.) C2 Proficiency Technical Formalto load a ship or vehicle with goods to be transported.
to load a vessel or vehicle with freight. This verbal use is significantly less common than the noun form in modern English.
ExampleThe workers began to cargo the plane early in the morning.
ExampleThe logistics company was contracted to cargo the fleet of transport ships before the winter storms made the route impassable.
UsageTransitive verb taking the vehicle or vessel as the direct object.
Borrowed from Spanish cargo (“load, burden”), from cargar (“to load”), from Late Latin carricō. Doublet of charge and carga.