transport
trans·port AW [transport transports transported transporting] noun, verb
noun BrE [ˈtrænspɔːt] ; NAmE [ˈtrænspɔːrt]
1. (especially BrE) (NAmE usually trans·por·ta·tion)uncountable a system for carrying people or goods from one place to another using vehicles, roads, etc
•air/freight/road transport
•the government's transport policy
see also ↑public transport
2. (BrE) (NAmE trans·por·ta·tion)uncountable a vehicle or method of travel
• Applicants must have their own transport.
• Transport to and from the airport is included in the price.
•His bike is his only means of transport.
3. uncountable (especially BrE) (also trans·por·ta·tion NAmE, BrE)the activity or business of carrying goods from one place to another using lorries/trucks, trains, etc
• The goods were damaged during transport.
•controls on the transport of nuclear waste
4. countable a ship, plane or lorry/truck used for carrying soldiers, supplies, etc. from one place to another
5. transportsplural ~ of sth (literary)strong feelings and emotions
•to be in transports of delight
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French transporter or Latin transportare, from trans- ‘across’ + portare ‘carry’.
Culture:
transport
Most journeys in Britain and the US are made by ↑road. Some of these are made on public transport (AmE public transportation) but most are by private car.
In Britain many people rely on their car for daily local activities, e.g. getting to work, doing the shopping, and visiting friends. People living in urban areasmay use buses, trains or, in London, the ↑Underground, to get to city centres, mainly because traffic is often heavy and it is difficult to find anywhere to park a car. Some places in the country have very few buses so people living there have no choice but to rely on their cars.
In the US large cities have good public transportation systems. The ↑El railroad in Chicago and the underground systems of New York, ↑Boston, ↑San Francisco and ↑Washington, DC are heavily used. Elsewhere, most Americans prefer to use their cars. In 2000 half of New Yorkers used public transport to get to work. In Los Angeles it was less than 10%. Families often have two cars and, outside major cities, have to drive fairly long distances to schools, offices, shops, banks, etc. Many college and even high-school students have their own cars.
Long-distance travel in Britain is also mainly by road, though ↑railways link most towns and cities. Most places are linked by ↑motorways or other fast roads and many people prefer to drive at their own convenience rather than use a train, even though they may get stuck in a traffic jam. Long-distance coach/bus services are usually a cheaper alternative to trains, but they take longer and may be less comfortable. Some long-distance travel, especially that undertaken for business reasons, may be by air. There are regular flights between regional airports, as well as to and from London. A lot of freight is also distributed by road, though heavier items and raw materials often go by rail.
In the US most long-distance travel is by air. America had two main long-distance bus companies, Greyhound and Trailways which merged in the early 1990s. Amtrak, which is financially supported by the federal government, provides long-distance rail services for passengers. There are many smaller private companies that operate commuter railways for the cities. Other private railway companies such as Union Pacific now carry only freight, though in fact over 70% of freight goes by road.
The main problems associated with road transport in both Britain and the US are traffic congestion and pollution. It is predicted that the number of cars on British roads will increase by a third within a few years, making both these problems worse. The British government would like more people to use public transport, but so far they have had little success in persuading people to give up their cars or to share rides with neighbours. Nevertheless, in the ten years to 2003 travel by rail increased by almost a third. Most people feel that public transport needs to be improved. Americans have resisted government requests to share cars because it is less convenient and restricts their freedom. Petrol/gasoline is relatively cheap in the US and outside the major cities public transport is bad, so they see no reason to use their cars less.
Despite the use of unleaded petrol/gasoline, exhaust emissions (= gases) from vehicles still cause air pollution which can have serious effects on health. The US was the first nation to require cars to be fitted with catalytic converters (= devices that reduce the amount of dangerous gases given off). Emissions are required to be below a certain level, and devices have been developed to check at the roadside that vehicles meet the requirement. Stricter controls are also being applied to lorries/trucks. Car manufacturers are developing cars that use electricity and other fuels that cause less pollution.
The cheapest and most environmentally-friendly ways to travel are to walk or ride a bicycle. Many cities now have special cycle routes or cycle lanes beside the main road. Elsewhere, there are so many cars on the roads that cycling can be dangerous. ↑Sustrans aims to increase travel by bicycle by providing safer routes. In the US bicycles are used mostly for fun or sport.
Example Bank:
•Applicants for the job must have their own transport.
•He sits on the passenger transport authority.
•Staff who transfer to a different office will receive a transport allowance.
•The car broke down, leaving us without transport.
•We provide transport to and from school.
•people who have no access to private transport
•to travel by/on public transport
•Horses and carts were the only means of transport.
•Investment in transport infrastructure has increased.
•Is it possible to get there by public transport?
•The book deals with the history of road transport.
•The industry was faced with a huge transport problem.
•The region has good transport links.
•They called for a complete rethink of government transport policy.
•Transport costs are currently funded by the taxpayer.
•We need stricter controls on the transport of nuclear waste.
•You need your own transport if you live there.
verb BrE [trænˈspɔːt] ; NAmE [trænˈspɔːrt]
1. ~ sth/sb (+ adv./prep.) to take sth/sb from one place to another in a vehicle
•to transport goods/passengers
• Most of our luggage was transported by sea.
2. ~ sth (+ adv./prep.) to move sth somewhere by means of a natural process
Syn: ↑carry
• The seeds are transported by the wind.
• Blood transports oxygen around the body.
3. ~ sb (+ adv./prep.) to make sb feel that they are in a different place, time or situation
•The book transports you to another world.
4. ~ sb (+ adv./prep.) (in the past) to send sb to a far away place as a punishment
•British convicts were transported to Australia for life.
Verb forms: 
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French transporter or Latin transportare, from trans- ‘across’ + portare ‘carry’.
Example Bank:
•Convicted criminals were transported to the Australian colonies.
•Our furniture can easily be transported from the shop to your home.
•The animals are transported in trucks, often without being fed or watered for days.
•Too many goods are currently being transported by road.
See also: ↑transportation
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