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fleet1 definition

fleet (flēt)

noun

    1. a number of warships under one command, usually in a definite area of operation
    2. the entire naval force of a country; navy
  2. any group of ships, trucks, buses, airplanes, etc. acting together or under one control

Etymology: ME flete < OE fleot < fleotan, to float: see fleet

fleet2 definition

fleet (flēt)

intransitive verb

  1. Obsolete to float; swim
  2. to move swiftly; flit; fly
  3. Archaic to pass away swiftly; disappear

Etymology: ME fleten < OE fleotan, akin to Ger fliessen < IE *pleud- < base *pleu-, flow

transitive verb

  1. Rare to pass away (time)
  2. Naut. to change the position of (a rope, pulley block, etc.)

adjective

  1. swift; rapid
  2. Old Poet. evanescent

Related Forms:

fleet3 definition

fleet (flēt)

noun

a small inlet; creek

Etymology: ME flete < OE fleot, akin to Du vliet: base as in fleet

fleet Idioms

the Fleet

  1. a former small creek in London, now a covered sewer
  2. a debtor's prison which stood near this creek
    also Fleet Prison

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

fleet Synonyms

fleet

modif.

swift, rapid, speedy; see fast 1. See syn. study at fast.


fleet

n.

armada, flotilla, naval force, argosy, invasion force, task force, squadron, formation, line; see also navy.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

fleet Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • warship: Let me explain: In 1433 the Chinese admiral Cheng Ho sailed an imperial fleet of warships right round the Indian Ocean.

Converse of object

  • operate: Coaches We operate a large fleet of modern high quality coaches.

Adjective modifier

  • Spanish: The squadron was mainly employed watching the Spanish fleet at Toulon.

Modifies a noun

  • livery: This is one of the first vehicles to carry a new restyled version of the fleet livery.

Noun used with modifier

  • fishing: Our once proud fishing fleet has been in steady decline over the years.
fleet usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

fleet quotes

The Knight in the triumph of his heart made several 6 reflections on thegreatness of the British Nation; as, that one Englishman could beat three Frenchmen; that we could never be in danger of Popery so long as we took care of our fleet; that theThames was thenoblest river in Europe; that London Bridge was a greater piece of work than any of the Seven Wonders of the World; with many other honest prejudices which naturally cleave to the heart of a true Englishman.

-Addison,Joseph

This ae nighte, this ae nighte, öEvery nighte and alle, Fire and fleet and candle-lighte, And Christe receive thy saule.

-Ballads

West of these out to seas colder than the Hebrides I must go Where the fleet of stars is anchored and the young Star captains glow.

-Flecker,James Elroy

fleet quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"fleet." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/fleet>

APA Style

fleet. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/fleet

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