ford

n. a shallow part of a river where people, animals, or vehicles can cross without a bridge.

n. a shallow point in a watercourse where the substrate is sufficiently firm to allow crossing by foot or vehicle.

“The hikers found a shallow ford where they could safely cross the stream.”

“Heavy rains had swollen the river, making the usual ford impassable for the local farmers and their livestock.”

v. to cross a river or stream by walking or driving through the water.

v. to traverse a body of water by wading or driving through a shallow section. Transitive — takes a direct object.

“We had to ford the river because the nearest bridge was miles away.”

“The expedition was forced to ford several icy tributaries before reaching the base of the mountain range.”

Formal