Word
cargo
Phoneticscar·go, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɑɹˌɡoʊ/
UK/kˈɑːɡəʊ/
Definitions
01freight or goods
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the goods that a ship, plane, or truck carries to a destination.
n. the goods or merchandise conveyed in a ship, aircraft, or motor vehicle. Often used as a collective noun for the entire load.
日本語:貨物※
“The ship was carrying a heavy cargo of oil and gas across the ocean.”
“The freighter was forced to remain in the harbour until the customs officials had finished inspecting the entire cargo for prohibited items.”
Usage
Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the total volume of goods.
02clothing style
B1 · Intermediate Plural noun
n. a style of trousers with many large pockets on the sides of the legs.
n. 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'.
“He wore cargo pants so he could carry his tools and phone in the side pockets.”
“The fashion trend saw a resurgence of cargo trousers, originally designed for military utility but now adopted for urban streetwear.”
Usage
Typically functions as an adjective or attributive noun before 'pants', 'shorts', or 'trousers'.
Synonyms
03to load goods
C2 · Proficiency Technical · Formal
v. to load a ship or vehicle with goods to be transported.
v. to load a vessel or vehicle with freight. This verbal use is significantly less common than the noun form in modern English.
“The workers began to cargo the plane early in the morning.”
“The logistics company was contracted to cargo the fleet of transport ships before the winter storms made the route impassable.”
Usage
Transitive verb taking the vehicle or vessel as the direct object.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “cargo” in context.
Verb
01. discharge the cargo
“The dockworkers worked through the night to discharge the cargo from the freighter.”
verb + noun
02. jettison the cargo
“The pilot was forced to jettison the cargo to lighten the aircraft during the emergency.”
verb + noun
03. stow the cargo
“Crew members must ensure they properly stow the cargo to prevent shifting during transit.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. hazardous cargo
“Strict safety protocols must be followed when handling hazardous cargo in the port.”
adj + noun
05. perishable cargo
“Refrigerated containers are essential when transporting perishable cargo like fresh seafood.”
adj + noun
06. precious cargo
“The armored truck was transporting precious cargo, including gold bullion and historical artifacts.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. cargo manifest
“Customs officers carefully inspected the cargo manifest to verify the contents of the shipment.”
noun + noun
08. consignment of cargo
“A large consignment of cargo was delayed due to the unexpected strike at the terminal.”
noun + of + noun
Real-World Examples
“The process is known as transshipping, which refers to the practice of transferring cargo through another country while en route to a final destination.” “SpaceX aims to use rockets like its Falcon 9 to bring cargo to and from orbit, as well as between different points on Earth.” “Some vehicles, like those that run onboard refrigeration systems to keep cargo cool, may need their engines to run even when they are parked.” “The ship’s cargo—including hundreds of Champagne and mineral water bottles, state-of-the-art scientific instruments, and rare meteorites—may have been a gift from the German Duchy of Nassau .” Etymology
Borrowed from Spanish cargo (“load, burden”), from cargar (“to load”), from Late Latin carricō. Doublet of charge and carga.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0