carrier
gb/kˈɛɹiɚ/ us/kˈɛɹiɚ/
A2
English
~ 3400
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
Company that moves goods or passengers
A business that takes people or things from one place to another.
Usage pattern:
[carrier] transports [goods/passengers]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'carrier' with 'courier'. A courier usually delivers small items directly, while a carrier can be a large company moving goods or people over longer distances.
Synonyms
transporter (More general term for someone or something that moves goods or people.)
Antonyms
recipient (The one who receives goods, opposite of the one who transports them.)
Collocations
air carrier
|national carrier
|shipping carrier
|common carrier
Themes
business
|travel
|logistics
|transportation
Examples
- The airline is the country's largest passenger carrier.
- This carrier offers overnight delivery to most major cities.
- The package was delayed because the carrier had mechanical issues.
Learner examples
- The carrier took the box to my house.
- The carrier brings food to the store.
- The carrier has many trucks.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
2
Organism carrying a disease silently
A person or animal that has a disease and can give it to others without feeling sick.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a carrier of [disease]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'carrier' with 'patient'. A patient has symptoms, but a carrier might not.
Synonyms
host (More general term for an organism in which another organism lives; not always symptomless.)
Antonyms
non-carrier (A person or animal who does not have the disease-causing organism.)
Collocations
virus carrier
|disease carrier
|asymptomatic carrier
Themes
health
|science
Examples
- She was found to be a carrier of the hepatitis virus.
- Some mosquitoes are carriers of malaria.
- An asymptomatic carrier can spread the illness without knowing it.
Learner examples
- He is a carrier of the virus.
- Some animals are carriers of diseases.
- The doctor says I am a carrier.
Noun
A2
entity
3
Container or device for carrying items
Something you use to hold and move things.
Usage pattern:
[carrier] for [objects/animals]
Synonyms
holder (General term for something that holds objects, not always for transport.)
Antonyms
unloader (Something that removes items rather than carries them.)
Collocations
pet carrier
|bottle carrier
|baby carrier
Themes
daily life
|objects
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She put the cat in its carrier before going to the vet.
- We bought a baby carrier for hiking.
- This bottle carrier holds six drinks.
Learner examples
- I carry my dog in a pet carrier.
- The baby is in a carrier.
- We need a bottle carrier for the picnic.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
4
Warship that carries aircraft
A big military ship that carries airplanes and lets them take off and land.
Synonyms
aircraft ship (Less common descriptive phrase; less formal military term.)
Antonyms
submarine (A warship designed to operate underwater, opposite in operational domain to an aircraft carrier.)
Collocations
aircraft carrier
|naval carrier
Themes
military
|transportation
|politics
Examples
- The aircraft carrier was deployed to the Pacific Ocean.
- An aircraft carrier can support dozens of fighter jets.
- They toured the retired aircraft carrier now serving as a museum.
Learner examples
- The navy has a big aircraft carrier.
- Planes take off from the aircraft carrier.
- We saw an aircraft carrier at the port.
Noun
technical
B1
entity
5
Telecom company providing network service
A company that gives phone or internet service.
Synonyms
network provider (Common modern term; interchangeable in most contexts.)
Antonyms
subscriber (The customer using the service, opposite role from the provider/carrier.)
Collocations
mobile carrier
|wireless carrier
Themes
technology
|business
|communication
Examples
- My mobile carrier offers unlimited data plans.
- Switching carriers can sometimes save money.
- The call failed due to problems with the local carrier.
Learner examples
- My phone carrier is very good.
- We changed our internet carrier.
- The mobile carrier has many customers.
Grammar
Expressions
common carrier
1/kˈɑmən kˈɛɹiɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
Licensed public transport company
A company that moves people or things for anyone who pays, following government rules.
Examples
- This railway operates as a common carrier under federal law.
- Common carriers must provide service without discrimination.
flag carrier
1/flˈæɡ kˈɛɹiɚ/
fixed phrase
Nationally designated airline
An airline chosen by a country to show its name and carry its flag in other countries.
Examples
- British Airways is the flag carrier of the United Kingdom.
- As the flag carrier, the airline receives certain government privileges.
aircraft carrier
1/ˈɛɹkɹˌæft kˈɛɹiɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
A warship that carries airplanes
A very big ship that carries and launches airplanes for the navy.
Examples
- The navy deployed an aircraft carrier to the region.
- The aircraft carrier docked at the naval base.
- Aircraft carriers are essential in modern naval warfare.
- An aircraft carrier can project air power far from home shores.