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Harbor vs Wharf - What's the difference?

harbor | wharf |

As nouns the difference between harbor and wharf

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 wharf is a man-made landing place for ships on a shore or river bank.

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.

    wharf

    English

    (wikipedia wharf)

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • A man-made landing place for ships on a shore or river bank.
  • * Bancroft
    • Commerce pushes its wharves into the sea.
  • * Tennyson
    • Out upon the wharfs they came, / Knight and burgher, lord and dame.
  • The bank of a river, or the shore of the sea.
  • * Shakespeare
    • the fat weed that roots itself in ease on Lethe wharf

    Synonyms

    * (landing place) dock; quay

    Hyponyms

    * (landing place) jetty; pier; staithe, staith (Northern England)

    Derived terms

    * wharfage * wharfie * wharf rat * wharfinger

    See also

    * dock English nouns with irregular plurals