boatload
part of speech
noun (a boatload, boatloads)
meaning for a pupil
1) The number of people or the amount of goods a boat can carry or is carrying. tree →
2) (informal) A very large number or amount of something: «a boatload of homework». tree →
sense in the lessons
In history: boatloads of settlers, convicts or refugees crossing the sea. In maths problems: «Each boatload holds 12 people; how many boatloads for 60 people?» – a division problem, and you must round up if there is a remainder, because a part-full boat still has to make a trip. Informally it means «lots». Phrases: «a boatload of», «by the boatload».
examples
- A boatload of tourists arrived at the island. tree →
- The first boatloads of convicts reached Australia in 1788. tree →
- The ferry can take a boatload of 40 cars. tree →
- We got a boatload of presents for my birthday! tree →
- If each boatload holds 8 children, 30 children need 4 boatloads. tree →
- Fish were brought to the harbour by the boatload. tree →
note
Countable: one boatload, two boatloads. Maths trap: 30 ÷ 8 = 3 remainder 6, so you need 4 boatloads, not 3. The informal «a boatload of» means «a lot of» and is not used in formal writing.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «boatload» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.