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

The Brewers are playing for only the second World Series berth in team history, and a high-profile athlete who grew up less than two hours from Milwaukee in Oshkosh, Wis., is actively rooting against them.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He may yet claim the left-back berth if Tuchel is unable to find a better alternative but he cannot rely on past credit.

Read more on BBC

The host Brewers captured the National League Division Series 3-2 to claim a berth in the NL Championship Series against the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Read more on Barron's

They'll take on the Toronto Blue Jays in the best-of-seven AL Championship Series starting on Sunday with a World Series berth on the line.

Read more on Barron's

With the host nations assured of berths as co-hosts, qualifying in the region was changed to feature a final round comprising three groups of four.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• dock 
• port 
• wharf