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carrier (n.)

late 14c., "one who or that which conveys," agent noun from carry (v.). Meaning "person or animal that carries and disseminates infection without suffering obvious disease" is from 1899; genetic sense is 1933. As a short form of aircraft carrier it dates from 1917. Carrier-pigeon, one of a breed trained to convey from one place to another written messages tied to its leg (also homing-pigeon), is from 1640s.

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Definitions of carrier from WordNet

carrier (n.)
someone whose employment involves carrying something;
the bonds were transmitted by carrier
Synonyms: bearer / toter
carrier (n.)
a self-propelled wheeled vehicle designed specifically to carry something;
refrigerated carriers have revolutionized the grocery business
carrier (n.)
a large warship that carries planes and has a long flat deck for takeoffs and landings;
Synonyms: aircraft carrier / flattop / attack aircraft carrier
carrier (n.)
an inactive substance that is a vehicle for a radioactive tracer of the same substance and that assists in its recovery after some chemical reaction;
carrier (n.)
a person or firm in the business of transporting people or goods or messages;
Synonyms: common carrier
carrier (n.)
a radio wave that can be modulated in order to transmit a signal;
Synonyms: carrier wave
carrier (n.)
a man who delivers the mail;
Synonyms: mailman / postman / mail carrier / letter carrier
carrier (n.)
a boy who delivers newspapers;
Synonyms: newsboy
carrier (n.)
(medicine) a person (or animal) who has some pathogen to which he is immune but who can pass it on to others;
Synonyms: immune carrier
carrier (n.)
a rack attached to a vehicle; for carrying luggage or skis or the like;
carrier (n.)
(genetics) an organism that possesses a recessive gene whose effect is masked by a dominant allele; the associated trait is not apparent but can be passed on to offspring;
From wordnet.princeton.edu