berth

[burth]

noun

1. a shelflike sleeping space, as on a ship, airplane, or railroad car.

2. Nautical.

   1. the space allotted to a vessel at anchor or at a wharf.

   2. the distance maintained between a vessel and the shore, another vessel, or any object.

   3. the position or rank of a ship's officer.

   4. the cabin of a ship's officer.

3. a job; position.

4. a place, listing, or role.

   She clinched a berth on our tennis team.

   Synonyms: appointment, niche, post, position, slot, spot

verb (used with object)

1. Nautical.

   1. to allot to (a vessel) a certain space at which to anchor or tie up.

   2. to bring to or install in a berth, anchorage, or moorage.

      The captain had to berth the ship without the aid of tugboats.

2. to provide with a sleeping space, as on a train.

verb (used without object)

1. Nautical.,  to come to a dock, anchorage, or moorage.

berth

/ bɜːθ /

noun

1. a bed or bunk in a vessel or train, usually narrow and fixed to a wall

2. nautical a place assigned to a ship at a mooring

3. nautical sufficient distance from the shore or from other ships or objects for a ship to manoeuvre

4. to keep clear of; avoid

5. nautical accommodation on a ship

6. informal,  a job, esp as a member of a ship's crew

verb

1. (tr) nautical to assign a berth to (a vessel)

2. nautical to dock (a vessel)

3. (tr) to provide with a sleeping place, as on a vessel or train

4. (intr) nautical to pick up a mooring in an anchorage

Other Word Forms

• unberth verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of berth¹

First recorded in 1615–25; probably equivalent to bear ¹ + -th ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of berth¹

C17: probably from _bear ¹ + _-th ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. give a wide berth to, to shun; remain discreetly away from.

   Since his riding accident, he has given a wide berth to skittish horses.

see give a wide berth to.

Example Sentences

They are serious contenders for a Southern Section Division 1 playoff berth even though some people still can’t figure out how they keep winning.

From Los Angeles Times

Ferries and trains have been cancelled and bridges shut, and a ferry sailing from Dublin to Holyhead has spent hours circling offshore as it is unable to berth.

From BBC

Another couple filed a complaint in the US state of Utah, with the investigation finding that a berth was not booked on a stated departure date.

From BBC

Roosevelt is on a three-game winning streak, but the Huskies are headed to another Division 1 playoff berth.

From Los Angeles Times

Abbott and Singer pitched on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, to help the Reds clinch their playoff berth.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dock 
• port 
• wharf