dover

IPA/ˈdəʊ.vər/
KK[dˈovɚ]IPA/ˈdoʊ.vɚ/

dover — noun

1. the main ferry port in Kent, England, that sits at the narrowest point of the En

1.noun
Definition

the main ferry port in Kent, England, that sits at the narrowest point of the English Channel and handles a large volume of cross-Channel passenger traffic.

Example

Ferries leave the port of Dover for France several times each day.

collocation: port of Dover

The White Cliffs of Dover are visible from the French coast on a clear day.

collocation: White Cliffs of Dover

Common collocations
  • port of Dover
  • White Cliffs of Dover
  • ferry from Dover
  • Dover Castle

2. the state capital of Delaware, an American state in the Mid-Atlantic region, sit

2.noun
Definition

the state capital of Delaware, an American state in the Mid-Atlantic region, situated centrally within the state with about 36,000 residents.

Example

Dover became the capital of Delaware in 1777 during the American Revolution.

collocation: capital of Delaware

The Dover International Speedway hosts a NASCAR race every spring.

Common collocations
  • capital of Delaware
  • Dover International Speedway
  • Delaware State Fair in Dover

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1 (ENGLISH PORT): this sense refers to a U.S. state capital, not a cross-Channel port.

3. a city in south-eastern New Hampshire, U.S., lying north-northwest of Portsmouth

3.noun
Definition

a city in south-eastern New Hampshire, U.S., lying north-northwest of Portsmouth near the Maine border, with a population of around 30,000.

Example

Dover is one of the oldest permanent settlements in New Hampshire.

historical: one of the oldest settlements

The Cochecho River flows through the centre of Dover toward the Atlantic coast.

Common collocations
  • Dover, New Hampshire
  • Cochecho River in Dover

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These four towns are all English Channel ports, but they serve different roles. Dover is the busiest ferry port for cross-Channel travel, with services to Calais and Dunkirk. Calais is the French counterpart on the opposite side of the Channel. Folkestone, a few miles west of Dover, is the terminal for the Eurotunnel rail service to France. Portsmouth, further west on the English coast, handles ferry routes to northern France and Spain. A learner might say "I took the ferry from Dover to Calais" or "The train went through the Eurotunnel from Folkestone" — each place names a different crossing point.

Dover ↗CalaisFolkestonePortsmouth

Common collocations

Nouns

  • city of Dover
  • port of Dover
  • town of Dover
  • Dover Castle
  • White Cliffs of Dover

Phrases

  • Dover, Delaware
  • Dover, New Hampshire
  • Dover, Kent

Prepositions

Etymology

BrythonicLatinOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The name Dover comes from the River Dour, which runs through the English port town. The river's name traces back to the ancient Celtic (Brythonic) word 'dubr-' meaning 'water', which also gave rise to other place names across Britain and Europe. The Romans called the settlement 'Dubris' or 'Portus Dubris'. The modern spelling 'Dover' developed through Old English 'Dofras' and Middle English. The same name was later carried to settlements in North America by English colonists.