stevedoring

Meanings

1. 1noununcountabletechnical

   The work of loading and unloading ships, and moving cargo in a port.

   Grammar: Used without 'a' or a plural: stevedoring is a job, not a count noun.

   Patterns

   • stevedoring company
   • stevedoring services
   • stevedoring operations

   Stevedoring at the port is done by a team of trained dockworkers.

   The company provides stevedoring services for container ships.

   He worked in stevedoring for ten years before becoming a port manager.

2. 2adjectivebefore a nountechnical

   Relating to the loading and unloading of ships or the companies that do this work.

   Grammar: Comes before a noun: a stevedoring firm, stevedoring costs.

   Patterns

   • stevedoring company
   • stevedoring industry
   • stevedoring costs

   The stevedoring company hired more workers during the busy season.

   Stevedoring costs rose after the new safety rules were introduced.

   She applied for a job at a stevedoring firm near the harbor.

Common combinations

stevedoring company

A stevedoring company loads and unloads cargo at the port.

stevedoring services

The port offers stevedoring services to all visiting ships.

stevedoring operations

Stevedoring operations were delayed by bad weather.

stevedoring industry

The stevedoring industry employs thousands of people in this city.

Synonyms and how they differ

dockwork

A broader term for all work at a dock, including but not limited to loading and unloading ships.

cargo handling

Focuses on the movement of goods rather than the ship-specific work that stevedoring usually means.

Word family

stevedore noun

A person whose job is to load and unload ships.

stevedore verb

To load or unload a ship as a stevedore.

Commonly confused: stevedoring or steering?

Practice

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