board, load (a vehicle), ride
搭 centers on the action of getting onto or into a vehicle: boarding, loading, or riding. The idea is physically placing oneself or cargo onto a conveyance.
搭 combines 扌 (hand) with 荅, which likely contributes the sound トウ. The hand radical suggests the physical action of placing or loading something onto a vehicle.
The left hand 扌 loads cargo onto the right side 荅, which looks like a platform or vehicle. Picture a hand placing a box onto a truck bed.
For トウ, imagine a hand loading a toe onto a bus: toe -> トウ, and the hand carefully boards the toe-shaped passenger.
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loading (on a ship); equipping (an aircraft, car, etc.) with; being equipped with
embarkation; boarding (a ship or aircraft)
gangway; boarding bridge
boarding pass; boarding ticket
boarding gate (airport); aircraft door
crew member
boarding procedures; check-in
check-in counter
boarding announcement
gangway; boarding bridge
(passenger) load factor; seat occupancy
passenger (on a ship or aircraft)
standard feature; standard equipment