dock

[ dok ]

/ dɒk /

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See synonyms for: dock / docked / docking / docks on Thesaurus.com

noun

a landing pier.

the space or waterway between two piers or wharves, as for receiving a ship while in port.

such a waterway, enclosed or open, together with the surrounding piers, wharves, etc.

dry dock.

a platform for loading and unloading trucks, railway freight cars, etc.

an airplane hangar or repair shed.

Also called scene dock. a place in a theater near the stage or beneath the floor of the stage for the storage of scenery.

verb (used with object)

to bring (a ship or boat) into a dock; lay up in a dock.

to place in dry dock, as for repairs, cleaning, or painting.

to join (a space vehicle) with another or with a space station in outer space.

verb (used without object)

to come or go into a dock or dry dock.

(of two space vehicles) to join together in outer space.

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of dock

First recorded in 1505–15; from Middle Dutch doc(ke)

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH dock

dock , harbor, pier, wharf

Other definitions for dock (2 of 4)

dock²

[ dok ]

/ dɒk /

noun

the solid or fleshy part of an animal's tail, as distinguished from the hair.

the part of a tail left after cutting or clipping.

verb (used with object)

to cut off the end of; cut short: to dock a tail.

to cut short the tail of: to dock a horse.

to deduct from the wages of, usually as a punishment: The boss docked him a day's pay.

to deduct from (wages): The boss docked his paycheck $20.

Origin of dock

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English dok, Old English -docca, in fingirdoccana (genitive plural) “finger muscles”; cognate with Frisian dok, Low German docke “bundle,” Icelandic dokkur “stumpy tail,” Middle High German tocke “bundle, sheaf”

Other definitions for dock (3 of 4)

dock³

[ dok ]

/ dɒk /

noun

the place in a courtroom where a prisoner is placed during trial.

Origin of dock

First recorded in 1580–90; perhaps from Dutch dok (dialectal sense) “cage, poultry pen, rabbit hutch”

Other definitions for dock (4 of 4)

dock⁴

[ dok ]

/ dɒk /

noun

any of various weedy plants belonging to the genus Rumex, of the buckwheat family, as R. obtusifolius(bitter dock ) or R. acetosa(sour dock ), having long taproots.

any of various other plants, mostly coarse weeds.

Origin of dock

⁴

First recorded before 1000; Middle English dokke, Old English docce; cognate with Middle Dutch docke, Middle High German tocke

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use dock in a sentence

So after learning about her predicament, Ames stepped outside toward a whiteboard near her loading dock.
‘Can’t eat a gift card’: Rural food banks fight to put turkeys on the table|Kyle Swenson|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Then I laughed, with relief and something else, because I’d hit the landing of the four-acre island straight on, the metal ramp to the dock glinting under a dark smudge of trees.
My Priceless Summer on a Maine Lobster Boat|Luna Soley|November 11, 2020|Outside Online
The ANC may not stand alone in the dock, but it does stand as Accused No.
The Corruption Battle Shaping South Africa’s Future|Charu Kasturi|November 9, 2020|Ozy
You can fish this way for shrimp at night under lights near bridges, docks, and jetties as well.
14 wild edibles you can pull right out of the ocean|By Bob McNally/Field & Stream|October 19, 2020|Popular-Science

I kayaked under the 210 through a very scary underpass, and paddled around getting people off roofs and over to the freeway, where onramps served as boat docks.
Los Angeles Is Gone - Issue 90: Something Green|Kim Stanley Robinson|October 7, 2020|Nautilus
Kobe got docked but his career was never going to be in jeopardy.
Mark Cuban Warns That Basketball Players Could Get the Sterling Treatment Next|Evan Weiner|June 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The designer's body was recovered near Pier 59 in Chelsea in the water alongside his docked yacht.
Fashion Designer Michele Savoia Found Dead in Hudson River|Erin Cunningham|February 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Three shiploads of men docked at Chesapeake Bay on April 26, 1607.
Not Just Cannibalism: Seven Ways Colonial Jamestown Was a Living Hell|Nina Strochlic|May 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In that blast, in 1947, some 581 people died aboard a ship docked near Texas City.
The Most Dangerous Substance in America May Be Fertilizer|Megan McArdle|April 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
As a result, The Coast Guard is restricting boat travel around 15 bridges and announced potential searches of docked vessels.
Anti-RNC Leaders: The Protests Must Go On|Lynn Waddell|August 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Large groups of people gathered at Yorktown where the boat had been docked and waited for the reply.
Hallowed Heritage: The Life of Virginia|Dorothy M. Torpey
Then a look used to pass between those two good-hearted creatures, and Mr. Stevens was served first and Carlo docked till evening.
It Is Never Too Late to Mend|Charles Reade
We came at last to Limehouse, where she was to be dry-docked.
A Tramp's Notebook|Morley Roberts
Curtal is a small horse; properly one who hath his tail docked or curtailed.
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 3|Various
It was just wide enough to admit the raft; and without further ado this was run into it, and “docked.”
The Vee-Boers|Mayne Reid

British Dictionary definitions for dock (1 of 4)

dock¹

/ (dɒk) /

noun

a wharf or pier

a space between two wharves or piers for the mooring of ships

an area of water that can accommodate a ship and can be closed off to allow regulation of the water level

short for dry dock

short for scene dock

mainly US and Canadian a platform from which lorries, goods trains, etc, are loaded and unloaded

verb

to moor (a vessel) at a dock or (of a vessel) to be moored at a dock

to put (a vessel) into a dry dock for repairs or (of a vessel) to come into a dry dock

(of two spacecraft) to link together in space or link together (two spacecraft) in space

Word Origin for dock

C14: from Middle Dutch docke; perhaps related to Latin ducere to lead

British Dictionary definitions for dock (2 of 4)

dock²

/ (dɒk) /

noun

the bony part of the tail of an animal, esp a dog or sheep

the part of an animal's tail left after the major part of it has been cut off

verb (tr)

to remove (the tail or part of the tail) of (an animal) by cutting through the boneto dock a tail; to dock a horse

to deduct (an amount) from (a person's wages, pension, etc)they docked a third of his wages

Word Origin for dock

C14: dok, of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for dock (3 of 4)

dock³

/ (dɒk) /

noun

an enclosed space in a court of law where the accused sits or stands during his trial

Word Origin for dock

C16: from Flemish dok sty

British Dictionary definitions for dock (4 of 4)

dock⁴

/ (dɒk) /

noun

any of various temperate weedy plants of the polygonaceous genus Rumex, having greenish or reddish flowers and typically broad leaves

any of several similar or related plants

Word Origin for dock

Old English docce; related to Middle Dutch, Old Danish docke, Gaelic dogha

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with dock

dock

see in the dock.

dock

Origin of dock

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH dock

Other definitions for dock (2 of 4)

Origin of dock

Other definitions for dock (3 of 4)

Origin of dock

Other definitions for dock (4 of 4)

Origin of dock

Words related to dock

How to use dock in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dock (1 of 4)

Word Origin for dock

British Dictionary definitions for dock (2 of 4)

Word Origin for dock

British Dictionary definitions for dock (3 of 4)

Word Origin for dock

British Dictionary definitions for dock (4 of 4)

Word Origin for dock

Other Idioms and Phrases with dock