cargo

Everyday

Goods carried by a ship, plane, train or lorry. tree →

In the lessons

In geography and history lessons, cargo ships carry goods between countries; trade routes moved cargoes such as spices and silk. In maths, cargo is weighed, split into containers and loaded: 12 tonnes of cargo in crates of 400 kg. Phrases: cargo ship, cargo plane, cargo hold, load the cargo.

Examples

• The ship carried a cargo of bananas. tree →
• Cranes unloaded the cargo at the port. tree →
• The cargo plane landed with medical supplies. tree →
• The cargo hold was full of crates. tree →
• If each container holds 20 tonnes, how many containers carry 100 tonnes of cargo? tree →
• Pirates attacked ships for their cargo. tree →
• He sold all his flock, invested it in a cargo of dates, and set sail. tree →

Note

Plural cargoes (UK) or cargos (US). Often uncountable: some cargo, a lot of cargo. Freight means much the same. Cargo trousers or cargo pants have big side pockets.