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Definition of 'berth'

Word Frequency

berth

(bɜːʳθ )

Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense berths , present participle berthing , past tense, past participle berthed

1.

See give sb/sthing a wide berth

2. countable noun

A berth is a bed on a boat, train, or caravan.

Goldring booked a berth on the first boat he could.

Synonyms: bunk, bed, cot [nautical], hammock More Synonyms of berth

3. countable noun

A berth is a space in a harbour where a ship stays for a period of time.

4. verb

When a ship berths, it sails into harbour and stops at the quay.

As the ship berthed in New York, McClintock was with the first immigration officers aboard. [VERB]

Synonyms: anchor, land, dock, moor More Synonyms of berth

berthed adjective [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]

There the Gripsholm was berthed next to another ship.

More Synonyms of berth

COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

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berth

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Word Frequency

berth in British English

(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. give a wide berth to

5. nautical

accommodation on a ship

6. informal

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

verb

7. (transitive) nautical

to assign a berth to (a vessel)

8. nautical

to dock (a vessel)

9. (transitive)

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

10. (intransitive) nautical

to pick up a mooring in an anchorage

Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Word origin

C17: probably from bear1 + -th1

Word Frequency

berth in American English

(bɜrθ )

noun

1.

enough space at sea to keep clear of another ship, the shore, etc.

2.

space for anchoring or tying up

3.

a ship's place of anchorage

4.

a position, place, office, job, etc.

a berth as chief engineer on the ship

5.

a.

a built-in bed or bunk, as in a ship's cabin or a Pullman car

b.

any sleeping place

verb transitive

6.

to put into a berth

7.

to furnish with a berth

verb intransitive

8.

to come into or occupy a berth

Idioms:

give (a) wide berth to

Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Word origin

< base of bear1 + -th1

Examples of 'berth' in a sentence
berth

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…

She will flirt with and hug men in the pub but she gives me a wide berth.Why is it so hard for them to slow down and allow a wider berth?That should provide a comfortable berth for viewing some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.Lower mooring fees and a shorter waiting time for berths are other draws.The fish finger company is being forced to find a new berth.Others may want to give it a wide berth.It seems trainers and jockeys have concluded they cannot win from the wide berths.The exercises are a statutory obligation because there is a chance that nuclear submarines could berth in the harbour.Mind you, there are other characters whom you should give a wide berth.Is there anything to see in the city, or is it best given a wide berth?

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Word lists with
berth

bed

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

-

Score: 0 / 5

Which type of bed am I?

a spare bed with a folding mattress or legs for ease of storage when not in use

platform bed put-you-up water bed

Which type of bed am I?

a narrow shelflike bed fixed along a wall

berth bunk day bed

Which type of bed am I?

a straw-filled mattress or bed

field bed pallet water bed

Which type of bed am I?

a bed raised, as on supports, high enough overhead to allow the use of the floor area below for various purposes, as for part of a living room

futon loft bed platform bed

Which type of bed am I?

a wickerwork or wooden cradle or pram, usually hooded

bassinet berth futon

Your score:

More idioms containing
berth

give someone or something a wide berth

Trends of
berth

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In other languages
berth

British English: berth /bɜːθ/ NOUN

A berth is a bed on a boat or train, or in a caravan.

American English: berth /ˈbɜrθ/
Arabic: سَرِيرٌ بِقِطارِ أَوْ سَفِينَة
Brazilian Portuguese: leito
Chinese: 卧铺
Croatian: brodski ležaj
Czech: lůžko
Danish: køje
Dutch: slaapplaats
European Spanish: litera
Finnish: vuodepaikka junassa tai laivalla
French: couchette
German: Koje
Greek: κουκέτα
Italian: cuccetta
Japanese: 寝台
Korean: 침대
Norwegian: køye tog/skip
Polish: koja
European Portuguese: leito
Romanian: cușetă
Russian: койка
Latin American Spanish: atracadero desembarcadero
Swedish: kajplats
Thai: ที่นอนในเรือ รถไฟ หรือรถคาราวาน (รถบ้าน)
Turkish: kabin
Ukrainian: спальне місце
Vietnamese: giường ngủ trên tàu

British English: berth VERB /bɜːθ/

When a ship berths, it sails into harbour and stops at the quay.

As the ship berthed, he was with the first immigration officers aboard.

American English: berth /ˈbɜrθ/
Brazilian Portuguese: atracar
Chinese: 停泊
European Spanish: atracar
French: mouiller
German: anlegen
Italian: entrare in porto
Japanese: 停泊する
Korean: 정박하다
European Portuguese: atracar
Latin American Spanish: atracar

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Nearby words of
berth

Related terms of
berth

Source

Definition of berth from theCollins English Dictionary

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Quick word challenge

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Question: 1

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childlike or childish?

Which version is correct?

We were shocked by their selfish and childlike behaviour.We were shocked by their selfish and childish behaviour.

comprehensible or comprehensive?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

comprehensive

comprehensible

Linda received training after joining the firm.

alone or lonely?

Which version is correct?

I spend a lot of my time alone in my room.I spend a lot of my time lonely in my room.

anniversary or birthday?

Which version is correct?

They celebrated the anniversary of Shakespeare's birth.They celebrated the birthday of Shakespeare's birth.

arise or rise?

Which version is correct?

A serious problem has arisen.A serious problem has risen.

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Scrabble score
for 'berth':
10

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

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Score: 0 / 5

attend court or reach court?

Which version is correct?

A key witness also failed to attend court in Dover. A key witness also failed to reach court in Dover.

consume energy or muster the energy?

Which version is correct?

Features such as electric windows consume energy. Features such as electric windows muster the energy.

environmental damage or nerve damage?

Which version is correct?

This disease causes environmental damage, strokes and heart attacks. This disease causes nerve damage, strokes and heart attacks.

deny treatment or improve treatments?

Which version is correct?

Researchers will help us better understand the causes and deny treatment. Researchers will help us better understand the causes and improve treatments.

annual loss or sad loss?

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sad loss

annual loss

He is a very to journalism and the book world.

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