berth

[burth]

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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.

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

Related formsun·berth, verb (used with object)

Can be confusedberth birth

Synonyms for berth

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR berth ON THESAURUS.COM

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

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

Related Words for berthing

dock, settle, tether, berth, moor, rendezvous, anchor, secure, fix, attach, fasten, alight, thump, pilot, debark, disembark, ditch, steer, ground, chain

Examples from the Web for berthing

Historical Examples of berthing

The staircase, porch, or berthing of the ladder-way to the cabin.
The Sailor's Word-Book
William Henry Smyth
The berthing made to fit into a vessel's gangway on either side.
The Sailor's Word-Book
William Henry Smyth
The rest of his companions had to hasten to assist in the berthing of the airship.
The Dreadnought of the Air
Percy F. Westerman
A little afterwards the boatswain's whistle sounded, the oars moved, and the galley was rowed out to her berthing station.
Sea-Dogs All!
Tom Bevan
The ship had berthing room for eight or ten people irrespective of the officers who slept aft.
The Strand Magazine, Volume V, Issue 26, February 1893
Various

British Dictionary definitions for berthing

berth

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 berthing

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 berthing

berth

see give a wide berth to.