ship
1a vessel, especially a large oceangoing one propelled by sails or engines.
Nautical.
a sailing vessel square-rigged on all of three or more masts, having jibs, staysails, and a spanker on the aftermost mast.
Now Rare. a bark having more than three masts.: Compare shipentine.
the crew and, sometimes, the passengers of a vessel: The captain gave shore leave to the whole ship.
an airship, airplane, or spacecraft.
to put or take on board a ship or other means of transportation; to send or transport by ship, rail, truck, plane, etc.
Nautical. to take in (water) over the side, as a vessel does when waves break over it.
to bring (an object) into a ship or boat.
to engage (someone) for service on a ship.
to fix in a ship or boat in the proper place for use.
to place (an oar) in proper position for rowing.: Compare boat (def. 10).
to send away: They shipped the kids off to camp for the summer.
to go on board or travel by ship; embark.
to engage to serve on a ship.
to be sent or transported by ship, rail, truck, plane, etc.: Both packages shipped this morning.
to permit of being transported by any of these means:Fresh raspberries do not ship well.
ship out,
to leave, especially for another country or assignment: He said goodbye to his family and shipped out for the West Indies.
to send away, especially to another country or assignment.
Informal. to quit, resign, or be fired from a job: Shape up or ship out!
Idioms about ship
jump ship,
to escape from a ship, especially one in foreign waters or a foreign port, as to avoid further service as a sailor or to request political asylum.
to withdraw support or membership from a group, organization, cause, etc.; defect or desert: Some of the more liberal members have jumped ship.
run a tight ship, to exercise a close, strict control over a ship's crew, a company, an organization, or the like.
when one's ship comes in / home, when one's fortune is assured: She'll buy a house when her ship comes in.
Origin of ship
1Other words from ship
- ship·less, adjective
- ship·less·ly, adverb
- mis·ship, verb, mis·shipped, mis·ship·ping.
- pre·ship, verb (used with object), pre·shipped, pre·ship·ping.
Words that may be confused with ship
Other definitions for ship (2 of 3)
a romantic relationship between fictional characters, as in fan fiction, or between famous people, whether or not the romance actually exists in the book, show, etc., or in real life:the TV show's most popular ships.
to take an interest in or hope for a romantic relationship between (fictional characters or famous people), whether or not the romance actually exists: I'm shipping those guys—they would make a great couple!
Origin of ship
2Other definitions for -ship (3 of 3)
a native English suffix of nouns denoting condition, character, office, skill, etc.: clerkship; friendship; statesmanship.
Origin of -ship
3Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use ship in a sentence
After the captain made the call to abandon ship, 150 people were able to escape on lifeboats lowered by electronic arms.
‘We’re Going to Die’: Survivors Recount Greek Ferry Fire Horror | Barbie Latza Nadeau | December 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTNerd Cruise By Adam Rogers, Wired What 800 Nerds on a Cruise ship Taught Me About Life, the Universe, and Snorkeling.
The Daily Beast’s Best Longreads, Dec 22-28, 2014 | William Boot | December 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThere was one bathroom on the ship, and there were no showers or beds.
Inside the Smuggling Networks Flooding Europe with Refugees | Barbie Latza Nadeau | December 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTTwo years into an Arctic expedition, they were forced to abandon ship a thousand miles north of Siberia.
The estimated ship date of the gadget is December 2014—perfect timing to say sayonara to smoking forever.
A wise man hateth not the commandments and justices, and he shall not be dashed in pieces as a ship in a storm.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousThe president sat in a chair which came over with the pilgrims in their ship, the Mayflower.
It was more like the boarding of a ship than any land fight I had ever seen or imagined.
My orders ought to have been taken before a single unwounded Officer or man was ferried back aboard ship.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I | Ian HamiltonFancy that enormous shell dropping suddenly out of the blue on to a ship's deck swarming with troops!
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I | Ian Hamilton
British Dictionary definitions for ship (1 of 2)
/ (ʃɪp) /
a vessel propelled by engines or sails for navigating on the water, esp a large vessel that cannot be carried aboard another, as distinguished from a boat
nautical a large sailing vessel with three or more square-rigged masts
to place, transport, or travel on any conveyance, esp aboard a ship: ship the microscopes by aeroplane; can we ship tomorrow?
(tr) nautical to take (water) over the side
to bring or go aboard a vessel: to ship oars
(tr often foll by off) informal to send away, often in order to be rid of: they shipped the children off to boarding school
(intr) to engage to serve aboard a ship: I shipped aboard a Liverpool liner
informal (tr) to concede (a goal): Celtic have shipped eight goals in three away matches
Origin of ship
1- See also ship out
Derived forms of ship
- shippable, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for -ship (2 of 2)
indicating state or condition: fellowship
indicating rank, office, or position: lordship
indicating craft or skill: horsemanship; workmanship; scholarship
Origin of -ship
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with ship
In addition to the idioms beginning with ship
- ship of state
- ship out
- ships that pass in the night
also see:
- desert a sinking ship
- enough to sink a ship
- shape up (or ship out)
- tight ship
- when one's ship comes in
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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