water-borne
|wa-ter-borne|
🇺🇸
/ˈwɔːtərˌbɔːrn/
🇬🇧
/ˈwɔːtəˌbɔːn/
carried by water
Etymology
'water-borne' originates from English, specifically the compound of 'water' and the past participle 'borne', where 'water' derives from Old English 'wæter' meaning 'water' and 'borne' derives from Old English 'beran' meaning 'to carry'.
'water-borne' changed from the Middle English combination of 'water' and the past participle form of 'beran'/'bear' (rendered as 'borne'/'born' in various stages), eventually stabilizing as the modern compound 'water-borne'.
Initially it meant 'carried or borne by water'; over time this core idea has remained but extended from literal physical transport to include transmission (for example, of diseases or contaminants) by water.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
carried or transmitted by water (e.g., contaminants, diseases, or organisms that travel through water).
Many outbreaks were caused by water-borne pathogens in the contaminated well.
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Adjective 2
transported on or by water (e.g., cargo or goods moved by ship or barge).
The company specializes in water-borne freight between islands.
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Last updated: 2025/10/14 21:40