berth Hear it!

berth definition

berth (bʉrt̸h)

noun

  1. enough space at sea to keep clear of another ship, the shore, etc.
  2. space for anchoring or tying up
  3. a ship's place of anchorage
  4. a position, place, office, job, etc. a berth as chief engineer on the ship
    1. a built-in bed or bunk, as in a ship's cabin or a Pullman car
    2. any sleeping place

Etymology: < base of bear + -th

transitive verb

  1. to put into a berth
  2. to furnish with a berth

intransitive verb

to come into or occupy a berth
berth Idioms

give (a) wide berth to

to stay at a prudent distance from; keep well clear of

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.