Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » ship

ship

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

The definition of a ship is a large boat or a vessel.

(noun)

An example of a ship is the Santa Maria.

To ship is defined as to transport or send something.

(verb)

An example of to ship is to send a package to a friend for her birthday.

See ship in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

any water vehicle of considerable size navigating deep water, esp. one powered by an engine
a water vehicle for sailing, with a bowsprit and at least three square-rigged masts, each composed of lower, top, and topgallant members
a ship's officers and crew
an aircraft

Origin: ME < OE scip, akin to Ger schiff, ON skip < IE *skeib- < *skei-, to cut, separate (> L scindere, to cut), extension of base *sek-, to cut (> saw): basic sense “hollowed-out tree trunk”

transitive verb shipped, shipping

to put or take on board a ship
☆ to send or transport by any carrier: to ship cattle by rail
to take in (water) over the gunwale or side, as in a heavy sea
to put or fix (an object) in its proper place on a ship or boat: ship the oars
to engage (a person or persons) for work on a ship
Informal to send (away, out, etc.); get rid of

intransitive verb

to go aboard ship; embark
to engage to serve on a ship
to travel by ship

the quality, condition, or state of being: hardship, friendship
1. the rank or office of: professorship
2. a person having the rank or status of: lordship
ability or skill as: statesmanship
all individuals (of the specified class) collectively: readership

Origin: ME < OE -scipe (akin to Ger -schaft, Du -scap) < base of scieppan, to create: see shape

See ship in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. A vessel of considerable size for deep-water navigation.
b. A sailing vessel having three or more square-rigged masts.
An aircraft or spacecraft.
The crew of one of these vessels.
One's fortune: When my ship comes in, I'll move to a larger house.

verb shipped shipped, ship·ping, ships

verb, transitive

To place or receive on board a ship: shipped the cargo in the hold.
To cause to be transported by or as if by ship; send. See Synonyms at send¹.
To place (a ship's mast or rudder, for example) in its working position.
a. To bring into a ship or boat: ship an anchor.
b. To place (an oar) in a resting position inside a boat without removing it from the oarlock.
To hire (a person) for work on a ship.
To take in (water) over the side of a ship.

verb, intransitive

To go aboard a ship; embark.
To travel by ship.
To hire oneself out or enlist for service on a ship.

Phrasal Verb: ship out To accept a position on board a ship and serve as a crew member: shipped out on a tanker. To leave, as for a distant place: troops shipping out to the war zone. To send, as to a distant place. Informal To quit, resign from, or otherwise vacate a position: Shape up or ship out.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English scip

Related Forms:

shipˈpa·ble adjective

suffix

a. Quality, state, or condition: scholarship.
b. Something that shows or possesses a quality, state, or condition: courtship.
Rank, status, or office: professorship.
Art, skill, or craft: penmanship.
A collective body: readership.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English -scipe

Learn more about ship

ship synonyms

ship phrase meanings

ship in a sentence

ship quotes

ship images