deck
English meaning: Deck
Definition
Any raised flat surface that can be walked on: a balcony; a porch; a raised patio; a flat rooftop.
Example
“He shuffled the deck and dealt five cards to each player.”
Another example: “They spent the summer evening relaxing on the back deck.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Has several distinct senses: nautical (a ship's floor), a raised outdoor platform on a house (chiefly North American; UK often 'patio' or 'terrace'), and a pack of cards. As a verb 'deck out' means to decorate, and 'deck someone' (slang) means to knock them down.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Middle Dutch 'dec' (roof, covering), related to 'decken' (to cover); the card-pack sense emerged in the 16th century.
Synonyms
- embellish
- adorn
- floor
- dump
- decorate
- beautify
- bedight
- coldcock
- knock down
- bedeck
Related Words
- conning
- forecastle
- tarot
- decks
- watertight
- amidships
- bulkhead
- aft
- waterline
- hangar
Common Collocations
- deck of cards
- ship's deck
- sun deck
- deck chair
- on deck
- deck out
Word Forms
deck (n); decks (pl); deck (v); decked; decking
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