v. & n.
v. (-ies, -ied) 1 tr. support or hold up, esp. while moving. 2 tr. convey with one from one place to another. 3 tr. have on one's person (carry a watch). 4 tr. conduct or transmit (pipe carries water; wire carries electric current). 5 tr. take (a process etc.) to a specified point (carry into effect; carry a joke too far). 6 tr. (foll. by to) continue or prolong (carry modesty to excess). 7 tr. involve, imply; have as a feature or consequence (carries a two-year guarantee; principles carry consequences). 8 tr. (in reckoning) transfer (a figure) to a column of higher value. 9 tr. hold in a specified way (carry oneself erect). 10 tr. a (of a newspaper or magazine) publish; include in its contents, esp. regularly. b (of a radio or television station) broadcast, esp. regularly. 11 tr. (of a retailing outlet) keep a regular stock of (particular goods for sale) (have stopped carrying that brand). 12 intr. a (of sound, esp. a voice) be audible at a distance. b (of a missile) travel, penetrate. 13 tr. (of a gun etc.) propel to a specified distance. 14 tr. a win victory or acceptance for (a proposal etc.). b win acceptance from (carried the audience with them). c win, capture (a prize, a fortress, etc.). d US gain (a State or district) in an election. e Golf cause the ball to pass beyond (a bunker etc.). 15 tr. a endure the weight of; support (columns carry the dome). b be the chief cause of the effectiveness of; be the driving force in (you carry the sales department). 16 tr. be pregnant with (is carrying twins). 17 tr. a (of a motive, money, etc.) cause or enable (a person) to go to a specified place. b (of a journey) bring (a person) to a specified point.
n. (pl. -ies) 1 an act of carrying. 2 Golf the distance a ball travels before reaching the ground. 3 a portage between rivers etc. 4 the range of a gun etc. carry-all 1 a light carriage (cf. CARRIOLE). 2 US a car with seats placed sideways. 3 US a large bag or case. carry all before one succeed; overcome all opposition. carry away 1 remove. 2 inspire; affect emotionally or spiritually. 3 deprive of self-control (got carried away). 4 Naut. a lose (a mast etc.) by breakage. b break off or away. carry back take (a person) back in thought to a past time. carry one's bat Cricket be not out at the end of a side's completed innings. carry the can colloq. bear the responsibility or blame. carry conviction be convincing. carry-cot a portable cot for a baby. carry the day be victorious or successful. carry forward transfer to a new page or account. carrying-on (or carryings-on) = carry-on. carrying-trade the conveying of goods from one country to another by water or air as a business. carry it off (or carry it off well) do well under difficulties. carry off 1 take away, esp. by force. 2 win (a prize). 3 (esp. of a disease) kill. 4 render acceptable or passable. carry on 1 continue (carry on eating; carry on, don't mind me). 2 engage in (a conversation or a business). 3 colloq. behave strangely or excitedly. 4 (often foll. by with) colloq. flirt or have a love affair. 5 advance (a process) by a stage. carry-on n. Brit. sl. 1 a state of excitement or fuss. 2 a questionable piece of behaviour. 3 a flirtation or love affair. carry out put (ideas, instructions, etc.) into practice. carry-out attrib.adj. & n. esp. Sc. & US = take-away. carry over 1 = carry forward. 2 postpone (work etc.). 3 Stock Exch. keep over to the next settling-day. carry-over n. 1 something carried over. 2 Stock Exch. postponement to the next settling-day. carry through 1 complete successfully. 2 bring safely out of difficulties. carry weight be influential or important. carry with one bear in mind.
[ ME f. AF & ONF carier (as CAR) ]