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

Six knockout round berths were on the line in Friday's final 11 games of group play in the in-season tournament, in which all games except the final also count in the regular-season standings.

Read more on Barron's

Shaking out the bedding provided in a brown paper bag, I watched my fellow passengers make up their berths, tucking in starched sheets with the ease of seasoned travelers.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Yet there is one banner day on the American calendar that I have always given a wide berth.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Note: Top eight qualify directly for the last 16; teams from ninth to 24th enter a play-off round to contest the remaining last 16 berths; bottom 12 teams will be eliminated.

Read more on Barron's

Note: Top eight qualify directly for last 16; teams from ninth to 24th enter a play-off round to contest the remaining last-16 berths; bottom 12 teams will be eliminated.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• dock 
• port 
• wharf