Definition

Noun: A large vessel specifically constructed and used for transporting goods and materials in bulk across bodies of water.

Usage

The term "cargo ship" refers to the vessel itself. It is used to describe the type of ship based on its primary function of carrying freight. * The port was filled with cargo ships from around the world. * A massive cargo ship delivered the new machinery to the factory. * The company chartered a cargo ship to transport its products overseas.

Advanced Usage

• "General cargo ship": A vessel designed to carry a wide variety of packaged goods, as opposed to specialized carriers for bulk liquids or containers.
  • The general cargo ship was loaded with crates, sacks, and pallets.
• In logistics and maritime contexts, "cargo ship" is a standard classification distinct from passenger ships, tankers, or naval vessels.

Variants and Related Words

• Freighter: A direct synonym for a cargo ship.
• Merchant ship / Merchantman: A broader term for any ship involved in commercial trade, which includes cargo ships.
• Container ship: A specialized type of cargo ship designed to carry standardized shipping containers.
• Bulk carrier: A specialized cargo ship designed to transport unpackaged bulk cargo, such as grain or ore.
• Cargo: (Noun) The goods being transported by the ship.

Synonyms

Freighter, merchant vessel, transport ship.

Related Phrases

• Cargo hold: The enclosed space within a ship where the cargo is stored.
  • The workers began unloading the cargo hold.
• Cargo capacity: The maximum amount of goods a ship can carry.
  • The new model has a greater cargo capacity.

Notes

The term specifically denotes the ship as a whole. The goods it carries are simply called "cargo." While "cargo ship" is a compound noun, its meaning is treated as a single, unified concept for the type of vessel.

Noun

1. a ship designed to carry cargo