buoy

[ boo-ee, boi ]

noun

1. Nautical. a distinctively shaped and marked float, sometimes carrying a signal or signals, anchored to mark a channel, anchorage, navigational hazard, etc., or to provide a mooring place away from the shore.
2. a life buoy.

verb (used with object)

1. to keep afloat or support by or as if by a life buoy; keep from sinking (often followed by up ):

   The life jacket buoyed her up until help arrived.

2. Nautical. to mark with a buoy or buoys.
3. to sustain or encourage (often followed by up ):

   Her courage was buoyed by the doctor's assurances.

   Synonyms: nurture, maintain, lighten, boost, uplift, lift

verb (used without object)

1. to float or rise by reason of lightness.

buoy

/ ˈbuːɪ; bɔɪ /

noun

1. See life buoy
   a distinctively shaped and coloured float, anchored to the bottom, for designating moorings, navigable channels, or obstructions in a body of water See also life buoy

verb

1. trusually foll byup to prevent from sinking

   the belt buoyed him up

2. trusually foll byup to raise the spirits of; hearten
3. tr nautical to mark (a channel or obstruction) with a buoy or buoys
4. intr to rise to the surface

Word History and Origins

Origin of buoy¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English boye “a float,” from unattested Middle French boie, boue(e), from Germanic; akin to beacon

Word History and Origins

Origin of buoy¹

C13: probably of Germanic origin; compare Middle Dutch boeie, boeye ; see beacon

Example Sentences

They also helped buoy Chavez's political fortunes, winning him momentum before a crucial recall vote.

From The Daily Beast

And he will buoy hopes among Democrats that Virginia is reliably purple, if not blue, in the 2016 presidential election.

From The Daily Beast

If you could launch these things from, say, a floating buoy, you could solve a lot of problems at once.

From The Daily Beast

They gave me a jolt of encouragement that is going to buoy me for the rest of my writing life.

From The Daily Beast

Bailouts, government guarantees, and the Fed's easy money policies helped buoy banks.

From The Daily Beast

The Nora lies becalmed not far from the Goodwin buoy, with her sails hanging idly on the yards.

From Project Gutenberg

The buoy having been secured, an iron hook and chain of great strength were then attached to the ring in its head.

From Project Gutenberg

“You see we require stronger tackle,” said the captain to Stanley, while the buoy was being slowly raised.

From Project Gutenberg

He therefore gave the order to have the fresh buoy, with its chain and sinker, ready to let go.

From Project Gutenberg

He had caught the life-buoy, and having managed to get it under his arms had floated about for the greater part of an hour.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• beacon