[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/harbor/)

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# harbor

noun (a harbor, harbors); verb (harbor, harbors, harbored, harboring) — US spelling of harbour

«harbor» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A sheltered area of water by the coast where ships and boats can stay safely. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/harbor/#m1)
2. To harbor someone means to hide or shelter them, often someone wanted by the police. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/harbor/#m2)
3. To harbor a feeling means to keep it in your mind for a long time: harbor a grudge. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/harbor/#m3)
4. To harbor germs or pests means to let them live and grow there. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/harbor/#m4)

### In the lessons

In geography and stories of the sea; in history (Pearl Harbor, Sydney Harbour); in science, places that harbor germs. Phrases: in the harbor, safe harbor, harbor a grudge, harbor doubts.

### Examples

- The fishing boats came back into the harbor. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/harbor/#x1)
- Sydney Harbour Bridge is famous around the world. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/harbor/#x2)
- The attack on Pearl Harbor brought the USA into the war in 1941. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/harbor/#x3)
- It is a crime to harbor a criminal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/harbor/#x4)
- She still harbors a grudge against her old friend. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/harbor/#x5)
- Dirty sponges can harbor germs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/harbor/#x6)
- We watched the ferries leave the harbor. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/harbor/#x7)
- The Dolphin then inquired if he knew the Piræus (the famous harbor of Athens). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/harbor/#x8)

### Note

Harbor is the American spelling; harbour is British, Canadian, Australian, NZ and Irish. Names keep their own spelling: Pearl Harbor, Sydney Harbour. Harbor and port are close; a harbor is the sheltered water, a port is the town and docks for trade.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «harbor» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/harbor/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«harbor» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/harbor.html) on Mova free.