harboring
harboring — noun
- harboringsingular
- harboringsplural
1. a protected area of water near land where ships can stay safely and where goods
a protected area of water near land where ships can stay safely and where goods are taken on or off the boats
The fishing boats returned to the harbor before the storm hit.
verb: return to + harbor; preposition: to
Salma watched the ships unload their cargo at the busy harbor.
verb: unload + at + harbor
A thick stone wall protects this harbor from strong winter waves.
Restaurants and shops line the edge of the harbor in this small town.
文法句型
harbor + verb
in/at/into + the + harbor
常見錯誤
harboring — verb
- harboringpresent simple I / you / we / they
- harborings3rd person singular
- harboringing-ing form
- harboringedpast simple
1. to keep a feeling, thought, or belief in your mind for a long time, especially o
to keep a feeling, thought, or belief in your mind for a long time, especially one that is not openly expressed — such as feeling angry about an old insult or still hoping for something that is unlikely to happen
Vikram still harbored a secret hope that his childhood friend would call him one day.
harbor + hope; collocation: secret hope
After years of unfair treatment, the workers harbored deep anger toward the company.
harbor + anger + toward
Élise did not want to harbor any doubt about her sister's honesty.
Mira realized she had been harboring a silly grudge against her neighbor for months.
The community harbored a quiet fear that the factory would close down.
文法句型
harbor + noun (feeling, thought, grudge, suspicion, hope)
harbor + noun + for/toward + noun
用法筆記
Object is usually a negative emotion (resentment, suspicion, grudge) or a secret wish. This sense does not describe ordinary, short-lived feelings — it implies keeping the feeling inside for some time.
常見錯誤
2. to give a person a place to stay while keeping their location secret, usually be
to give a person a place to stay while keeping their location secret, usually because the police or other authorities are looking for them
The farmer was charged with harboring the escaped prisoner in his barn.
harbor + escaped prisoner; legal context: charged with
During the war, many families risked their safety by harboring refugees.
Noa's grandfather was arrested for harboring soldiers from the other side of the conflict.
Liang knew that harboring a fugitive was a serious crime.
文法句型
harbor + noun (person being hidden)
harbor + person + from + authorities
用法筆記
Common in legal contexts. The person being harbored is usually a fugitive, escaped criminal, or someone the authorities are actively searching for.
常見錯誤
3. to serve as a place inside or on a living thing where germs, viruses, or other t
to serve as a place inside or on a living thing where germs, viruses, or other tiny organisms live and may pass on to other living things
Some infected people can harbor the bacteria for years without showing any symptoms.
harbor + bacteria + for + duration; medical context
The hospital tested all staff members to see who might harbor the infection.
Stagnant water often harbors the kinds of germs that make children ill.
Folake learned that her pet cat could harbor a parasite dangerous for pregnant women.
文法句型
harbor + noun (bacteria, virus, germs, parasite, disease)
用法筆記
Subject can be a living being (human, animal, insect) or a place (water, soil, a building). Unlike 'contain,' this sense implies the microorganisms are alive and capable of spreading.
常見錯誤
4. to come into a sheltered area of water in order to find safety from bad weather,
to come into a sheltered area of water in order to find safety from bad weather, strong waves, or danger
The captain decided to harbor in the nearest cove when the waves grew dangerous.
harbor + in + location; nautical context
After three days at sea, the small boat harbored on the quiet island beach.
During the typhoon warning, all ships harbored inside the protective bay.
The fishermen harbored their boats behind the stone pier as the rain began.
文法句型
harbor + preposition (in, at, behind)
harbor + location noun
5. to own, keep, or take care of an animal on your property, especially when this i
to own, keep, or take care of an animal on your property, especially when this is regulated or restricted by rules
The old woman was known to harbor more than twenty cats in her small house.
harbor + number + animals; known for
Andrew's uncle harbored goats and chickens in the shed behind his house.
The city council passed a law against harboring farm animals inside town limits.
Beatrix secretly harbored three dogs in a shed behind the garage.
文法句型
harbor + noun (animals, pets, livestock)
用法筆記
Often appears in legal or regulatory statements about how many or what kind of animals a person may keep. For ordinary pet ownership, 'keep' or 'own' are more neutral.