deck

American  

[dek] / dɛk /

noun

• decks
  plural

1. Nautical.

   1. (on a ship) a floorlike surface occupying one level of the hull, superstructure, or deckhouse and often serving to strengthen the structure of the vessel.

   2. the space between such a surface and the next such surface above.

      Our stateroom was on B deck.

2. an open, unroofed porch or platform extending from a house or other building.

3. any open platform suggesting an exposed deck of a ship.

4. a level, tier, or section of a structure, such as of a stadium or vehicle.

   We got excellent seats for the game in the lower deck.

   We took the elevator to the observation deck.

   I like sitting on the upper deck in those double-decker buses.

5. flight deck.

6. a pack of playing cards.

7. Digital Technology. a set of slides with text, pictures, or diagrams for presentation.

   I’ve put together a slide deck for the new hires, showing what each department does.

   We asked the consultant to put together a branding deck for the business.

8. a flat or nearly flat watertight surface, such as at the top of a mansard roof.

9. Also called cloud deck.  Meteorology. a continuous or fragmented distribution of clouds all sharing the same cloud base; cloud layer.

10. Slang. a small packet of a narcotic, especially heroin.

11. Printing. bank.

12. Also called rear deck.  the cover of a space behind the backseat of an automobile or the space itself.

13. Library Science. a level of book shelving and associated facilities in the stacks of a library, as one of a series of floors or tiers.

14. cutter deck.

15. a tape deck or cassette deck.

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verb (used with object)

• decks,
  present (3rd person singular)
• decked,
  past participle,  past
• decking
  present participle

1. to clothe or attire (people) or array (rooms, houses, etc.) in something ornamental or decorative (often followed byout ).

   We were all decked out in our Sunday best.

   The bakery window was decked with holly for the holiday season.

   Synonyms:

   dress, embellish, adorn, bedizen, trim, garnish, bedeck

2. Informal. to knock down; floor.

   The champion decked the challenger in the first round.

3. to furnish with a deck.

adjective

1. Civil Engineering. (of a bridge truss) having a deck or floor upon or above the structure.

idioms

1. clear the decks,

   1. to prepare for combat, as by removing all unnecessary gear.

   2. to prepare for some activity or work, as by getting rid of hindrances.

2. on deck,

   1. Baseball. next at bat; waiting one's turn to bat.

   2. Informal. next in line; coming up; scheduled.

   3. Informal. prepared to act or work; ready.

3. stack the deck. stack.

4. play with / have a full deck, to be sane, rational, or reasonably intelligent.

   Whoever dreamed up this scheme wasn't playing with a full deck.

5. hit the deck,

   1. Nautical. to rise from bed.

   2. to fall, drop, or be knocked to the ground or floor.

deck British  

/ dɛk /

noun

1. nautical any of various platforms built into a vessel

   a promenade deck

   the poop deck

2. a similar floor or platform, as in a bus

3. 1. the horizontal platform that supports the turntable and pick-up of a record player

   2. See tape deck

4. a pack of playing cards

5. Also called: pack.  obsolete computing a collection of punched cards relevant to a particular program

6. a raised wooden platform built in a garden to provide a seating area

7. informal to prepare for action, as by removing obstacles from a field of activity or combat

8. informal

   1. to fall to the floor or ground, esp in order to avoid injury

   2. to prepare for action

   3. to get out of bed

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verb

1. (often foll by out) to dress or decorate

2. to build a deck on (a vessel)

3. slang to knock (a person) to the floor or ground

deck More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing deck

• clear the decks
• hit the deck
• on deck

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Usage

What is a basic definition of deck? The word deck is used as a noun to refer to a floorlike surface on a ship, an unroofed porch attached to a house, or a pack of playing cards. Deck has many other senses as a noun, verb, and adjective. On a ship, a deck is a surface that acts as a floor that the crew is able to walk on. A ship can have more than one deck depending on size, so terms like upper deck, main deck, and lower deck may be used to tell them apart.

• Real-life examples: The RMS Titanic was a large ship that had 10 decks. A pirate captain may order a crewman to swab, that is, mop, the deck.
• Used in a sentence: I walked with the ship’s captain across the Promenade deck. 

When referring to a house, a deck is a roofless porch or platform that extends from the house itself. A deck can have many functions, such as providing a surface for outdoor furniture or a barbeque grill.

• Real-life examples: A house built in a place with frequent sunny weather might have a sun deck that is a good spot for sunbathing or relaxing. A home with a swimming pool may have a pool deck that connects to the house so people can easily walk to the pool.
• Used in a sentence: We sat on the deck and watched the fireworks.

A pack of playing cards is also called a deck. In the United States, a standard set of playing cards has 52 cards in four suits—spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs.

• Real-life examples: Poker and blackjack are games that require a deck of cards. A fortune teller often uses a deck of tarot cards to tell fortunes.
• Used in a sentence: The dealer drew the ace of diamonds from the deck.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• decker
  noun
• undecked
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• decks
  plural

Participles

• decking
  present
• decked
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• deck
  simple
• decks
  simple
• have decked
  perfect
• has decked
  perfect
• am decking
  progressive
• are decking
  progressive
• is decking
  progressive
• have been decking
  perfect progressive
• has been decking
  perfect progressive

Past

• decked
  simple
• had decked
  perfect
• was decking
  progressive
• were decking
  progressive
• had been decking
  perfect progressive

Future

• will deck
  simple
• will have decked
  perfect
• will be decking
  progressive
• will have been decking
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of deck

First recorded in 1425–75; (for the noun) late Middle English dekke “material for covering,” from Middle Dutch dec “covering, roof”; (for the verb) from Dutch dekken “to cover”; cognate with German decken; cf. thatch

Explanation

A deck is a platform or a section of floor on a ship. If you're on a cruise with your family, you might tell your brother to meet you on the upper deck after lunch to play shuffleboard. Most decks are open, without a roof, and positioned high on a ship . Typically, the bridge deck houses the ship's helm and navigational tools. The deck behind your house isn't much different from a ship's deck — it's a flat platform too. Other kinds of decks are a pack of cards, the board part of a skateboard, and the floor: "Hit the deck!" To deck a person is to hit them, but to deck your house is to decorate it.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

deck decks decked decking

"I'm going to take my dungarees off shortly and maybe put on some deck shoes and have a G&T".

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

With its tar-soaked rigging, creaking oak deck and 50 spruce oars, Draken Harald Harfagre is the largest modern replica of a Viking ship.

From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026

Jack Schmidt, director of the Center for Colorado River Studies at Utah State University, likened the measures to rearranging deck chairs on a sinking ship.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

The studio also has “Gatto,” from “Luca” director Enrico Casarosa, on deck for 2027.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026

As I climb the deck stairs, there’s a thud somewhere out in the yard.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

She packed up her two worn decks of tarot cards, some small carved stone figurines and headed for home before the darkness swallowed Old Havana again.

From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026

The compound comes with a three-car garage, two ipe wood decks, several outdoor seating areas, and drought-resistant landscaping that abounds with leafy hedges and mature trees.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026

If he had amassed the same number of records, skateboard decks or vintage gaming consoles — all fire hazards — would he have gotten the same eviction warning?

From Salon ● Jul. 23, 2026

With the World Cup to be played on the hard decks of South Africa and Zimbabwe, England will likely persist with three outright fast bowlers with the support of Curran.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

Gia ambled down the great iron steps connecting the upper decks of the air-trolley platforms to the streets below.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

Those still open tend to have generators, menus priced in dollars and a clientele of well-connected Cubans, decked in salmon shirts and tassel loafers.

From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026

The match in Mexico is also front and centre of the front page, which carries a photo of fans decked out in England jerseys and flying the St George Cross.

From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026

In Santa Monica, parade-goers lined Main Street decked out in shiny red, white and blue leis and tank tops bearing stars and stripes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 4, 2026

He pushes past marching bands with their instruments held high and parade spectators decked out in red, white and blue regalia.

From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026

Leonardo, decked out in his flowing robes and floppy Renaissance cap, gave the prelaunch countdown: “Cinque, quattro, tre, due, uno—blast off!”

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein

A City of Edinburgh Council report later found a previous building survey carried out in May 2022 identified a series of issues, including "combustible cladding and insulation, combustible decking and internal fire-stopping issues".

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

“Step outside to a private backyard oasis featuring a sparkling pool and upgraded decking, perfect for entertaining or relaxing Texas-style,” the listing notes.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 18, 2026

Pfeiffer’s Texan matriarch is a delight to watch as she flits about her house, decking the halls with warm, multicolored lights and seasonal throw pillows.

From Salon ● Dec. 3, 2025

The decking company built its business on composite boards made from sawdust and recycled plastic shopping bags, which it pitches as more durable than pressure-treated lumber.

From Barron's ● Nov. 7, 2025

He had thrown himself into it with a creative passion, adding to it all the time, decking it out with every bright feather that drifted his way.

From " The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Related Words

• adorn
• beautify
• bedeck
• clothe
• decorate
• embellish
• festoon