mooring

American  

[moor-ing] / ˈmʊər ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that moors. moor.

2. Usually moorings. the means by which a ship, boat, or aircraft is moored. moor.

3. moorings, a place where a ship, boat, or aircraft may be moored. moor.

4. Usually moorings. one's stability or security.

   After the death of his wife he lost his moorings.

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mooring British  

/ ˈmʊərɪŋ, ˈmɔː- /

noun

1. a place for mooring a vessel

2. a permanent anchor, dropped in the water and equipped with a floating buoy, to which vessels can moor

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Etymology

Origin of mooring

1375–1425; late Middle English; compare Middle Dutch moor; moor ², -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Asked about the 5.5 million barrels of fuel that, according to Kpler data, arrived from Russia at the company’s mooring in the bay of Mersin this year, Ayrik said he couldn’t discuss the company’s customers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 27, 2025

A major Russian oil terminal near the southern port of Novorossiysk halted operations early Saturday after a naval drone attack damaged one of its three mooring points.

From Barron's • Nov. 29, 2025

The ocean-going yellow sub - called Boaty McBoatyface - was being put through trials when its propeller snagged the mooring for the 1970s camera system.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2025

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is considering upping the fees for campsites and mooring.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 10, 2024

“What led you to investigate the defendant in the first place? Why did you think to look around his boat and to notice something like a new mooring line?”

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson