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Harbor vs Gulf - What's the difference?

harbor | gulf |

As nouns the difference between harbor and gulf

is that harbor is a sheltered expanse of water, adjacent to land, in which ships may dock or anchor, especially for loading and unloading while gulf is a hollow place in the earth; an abyss; a deep chasm or basin.

As a verb harbor

is to provide a harbor or safe place for.

harbor

English

Alternative forms

* harbour (Commonwealth) * herberwe (obsolete) * herborough (obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A sheltered expanse of water, adjacent to land, in which ships may dock or anchor, especially for loading and unloading.
    • A harbor''', even if it is a little '''harbor , is a good thing, since adventurers come into it as well as go out, and the life in it grows strong, because it takes something from the world, and has something to give in return -
  • Any place of shelter.
    • The neighborhood is a well-known harbor for petty thieves.

    Derived terms

    * harborage * harbormaster * harbor seal * safe harbor

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To provide a harbor or safe place for.
  • *{{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= Katie L. Burke
    • , title= In the News , volume=101, issue=3, page=193, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola. A recent study explored the ecological variables that may contribute to bats’ propensity to harbor such zoonotic diseases by comparing them with another order of common reservoir hosts: rodents.}}
  • To take refuge or shelter in a protected expanse of water.
  • To hold or persistently entertain in one's thoughts or mind.

    • See also

    * haven * dock

    References

    * * * * * Random House Webster's Unabridged Electronic Dictionary , 1987-1996.

    gulf

    English

    (wikipedia gulf)

    Alternative forms

    * gulph (obsolete)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A hollow place in the earth; an abyss; a deep chasm or basin.
  • * Milton
    • He then surveyed / Hell and the gulf between.
  • * Bible, Luke xvi. 26
    • Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed.
  • (obsolete) That which swallows; the gullet.
  • * 1606 , , IV. i. 23:
    • Witch's mummy, maw and gulf / Of the ravined salt sea shark,
  • That which swallows irretrievably; a whirlpool; a sucking eddy.
  • * Tennyson
    • a gulf of ruin, swallowing gold
  • (geography) A portion of an ocean or sea extending into the land; a partially landlocked sea; as, the Gulf of Mexico or Persian Gulf.
  • (mining) A large deposit of ore in a lode.
  • A difference, especially a large difference, between groups
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=September 7 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Moldova 0-5 England , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=England were graphically illustrating the huge gulf in class between the sides and it was no surprise when Lampard added the second just before the half hour. Steven Gerrard found his Liverpool team-mate Glen Johnson and Lampard arrived in the area with perfect timing to glide a header beyond Namasco.}}

    Derived terms

    * engulf * Gulf Coast * Gulf Stream * Gulf War * gulfweed * gulfy