harbour

Universal Words (BrE) (AmE harbor) noun, verb noun [C,U] an area of water on the coast, protected from the open sea by strong walls, where ships can shelter: Several boats lay at anchor in the harbour. * to enter / leave harbour verb [VN] 1 to hide and protect sb who is hiding from the police: Police believe someone must be harbouring the killer. 2 (written) to keep feelings or thoughts, especially negative ones, in your mind for a long time: The arsonist may harbour a grudge against the company. * She began to harbour doubts about the decision. * to harbour thoughts of revenge * He still harbours ambitions of playing professional soccer. 3 (written) to contain sth and allow it to develop: Your dishcloth can harbour many germs. * These woodlands once harboured a colony of red deer. * The Fife coast harbours many insects which are rare elsewhere in Britain.