berth

[ burth ]

/ bɜrθ /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR berth ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

Nautical.

the space allotted to a vessel at anchor or at a wharf.
the distance maintained between a vessel and the shore, another vessel, or any object.
the position or rank of a ship's officer.
the cabin of a ship's officer.

a job; position.

a place, listing, or role: She clinched a berth on our tennis team.

verb (used with object)

Nautical.

to allot to (a vessel) a certain space at which to anchor or tie up.
to bring to or install in a berth, anchorage, or moorage: The captain had to berth the ship without the aid of tugboats.

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

verb (used without object)

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

Nearby words

Idioms

give a wide berth to, to shun; remain discreetly away from: Since his riding accident, he has given a wide berth to skittish horses.

Origin of berth

1615–25; probably bear¹ + -th¹

SYNONYMS FOR berth

4. spot, slot, position, post, niche, appointment.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR berth ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsun·berth, verb (used with object)

Can be confusedberth birth

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for berth

Only then would a racer likely get a chance at a World Cup berth, from the very back of the start list.
Skiing Prodigy Mikaela Shiffrin Looks Ahead to Sochi|Jake Bright|December 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
They arranged for a berth for Liebling on LCI(L)-88, one of the first large landing crafts scheduled to hit Omaha.
The Story of the American Journalists Who Landed on D-Day|Timothy M. Gay|June 6, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Carry along a waterproof sheet to give the porter when he makes up the berth.
If Your Baby Must Travel in Wartime|United States Department of Labor, Children's Bureau
He can usually satisfy his hobby, too, for most travellers steer clear of the berth.
Pitching in a Pinch|Christy Mathewson

The next instant he was thrown against the frame of the berth.
Atlantis|Gerhart Hauptmann
By listening outside the curtains of his berth they discovered, without a doubt, that it proceeded from there.
Dick, Marjorie and Fidge|G. E. Farrow
Going over to the berth he found her lying there, with face turned to the wall.
Murder Point|Coningsby Dawson

British Dictionary definitions for berth

berth

/ (bɜːθ) /

noun

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

nautical a place assigned to a ship at a mooring

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

give a wide berth to to keep clear of; avoid

nautical accommodation on a ship

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

verb

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

nautical to dock (a vessel)

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

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

Word Origin for berth

C17: probably from bear 1 + -th 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for berth

berth

1620s, "convenient sea room" (both for ships and sailors), of uncertain origin, probably from bear (v.) + abstract noun suffix -th (2) as in strength, health, etc. Original sense is preserved in phrase to give (something or someone) wide berth. Meaning "place on a ship to stow chests, room for sailors" is from 1706; extended to non-nautical situations by 1778.

berth

1660s, of ships, from berth (n.). Of persons (intransitive), from 1886. Related: Berthed; berthing.

Idioms and Phrases with berth

berth

see give a wide berth to.

berth

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of berth

Examples from the Web for berth

berth

noun

verb

Word Origin for berth

berth

berth

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