boat
English meaning: Boat
Definition
A craft used for transportation of goods, fishing, racing, recreational cruising, or military use on or in the water, propelled by oars or outboard motor or inboard motor or by wind.
Example
“They hired a small boat to explore the quiet inlets along the coast.”
Another example: “We're all in the same boat when it comes to rising rents.”
Usage — When, Where & How
A small watercraft ('a fishing boat', 'rowing boat'); also figurative idioms ('in the same boat', 'rock the boat'). Everyday register. 'Boat' is generally smaller than 'ship'. The gravy-boat sense is a tableware noun.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Old English 'bat', of Germanic origin; in use since before the 12th century.
Related Words
- capsized
- rowed
- rowing
- ramp
- ramps
- regatta
- torpedo
- depths
- boats
- lifeboat
Common Collocations
- fishing boat
- rowing boat
- in the same boat
- rock the boat
- boat ramp
Word Forms
boat (n/v); boats; boated; boating
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B