ford
n. countable C2 Proficiency US //ˈfɔɹd// UK //fˈɔːd// ford
n. a shallow place in a river or stream where the water is low enough for you to walk or drive across.
n. a shallow part of a river or other body of water that may be crossed by wading or by a vehicle.
The hikers crossed the river at a shallow ford.
Heavy rains made the river rise so quickly that the local ford became impassable for small cars.
Before the construction of the stone bridge, this ancient ford served as the primary crossing point for merchants traveling between the two mountain provinces.
Usage
Often used as a place-name suffix (e.g., Oxford, Stratford) to indicate a historical crossing point.