Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » dock

dock

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

The definition of a dock is a pier for boats or a platform for cars, trucks, etc.

(noun)

An example of dock is where a person parks his boat.

Dock is defined as to bring a boat, ship or other vehicle into a landing pier or platform.

(verb)

An example of to dock is to bring a boat into its "parking space" and tie it down.

See dock in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a large structure or excavated basin for receiving ships, equipped with gates to keep water in or out
☆ a landing pier; wharf
the area of water between two landing piers
☆ a platform at which trucks or freight cars are loaded and unloaded
☆ a building, platform, or area for servicing aircraft

Origin: orig., mud channel made by a vessel's bottom at low tide: hence, dock < MDu docke, channel < It doccia, conduit, canal: see douche

transitive verb

to bring or pilot (a ship) to or into a dock and moor it
☆ to join (vehicles) together in outer space

intransitive verb

to come to or into a dock and moor
☆ to join up with another vehicle in outer space

noun

the place where the accused stands or sits in court

Origin: < Fl docke, dok, hutch, pen, cage

noun

any of various tall, coarse weeds (genus Rumex) of the buckwheat family, with stout taproots, small green or brown flowers, and large leaves

Origin: ME dokke < OE docce, akin to MHG tocke, bundle, tuft

noun

the solid part of an animal's tail, excluding the hair
an animal's bobbed tail

Origin: ME dok < OE -docca or ON dockr, a short, stumpy tail, akin to dock

transitive verb

to cut off the end of (a tail, etc.); clip or bob
to shorten the tail of by cutting
to deduct a part from (wages, etc.)
to deduct a part from the wages of
to remove part of

Origin: ME dokken < the n.

See dock in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

The area of water between two piers or alongside a pier that receives a ship for loading, unloading, or repairs.
A pier; a wharf.
A group of piers on a commercial waterfront that serve as a general landing area for ships or boats. Often used in the plural.
A platform at which trucks or trains load or unload cargo.

verb docked, dock·ing, docks

verb, transitive

To maneuver (a vessel or vehicle) into or next to a dock.
To couple (two or more spacecraft, for example) in space.

verb, intransitive

To move or come into a dock.

Origin:

Origin: Dutch dok

Origin: , from Middle Dutch doc

Origin: , from dūken, to go under water, dive

noun

The solid or fleshy part of an animal's tail.
The tail of an animal after it has been bobbed or clipped.

transitive verb docked, dock·ing, docks

To clip short or cut off (an animal's tail, for example).
To deprive of a benefit or a part of one's wages, especially as a punishment: The company docks its employees for unauthorized absences.
To withhold or deduct a part from (one's salary or wages).

Origin:

Origin: Middle English dok

noun

An enclosed place where the defendant stands or sits in a court of law.

Origin:

Origin: Obsolete Flemish docke, cage

noun

See sorrel¹.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English docce

Learn more about dock