Definition of 'berth'

Word Frequency

berth

(bɜːʳθ )

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

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

Video: pronunciation of
berth

berth in British English

(bɜːθ )

noun

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

Word origin

C17: probably from bear1 + -th1

Word Frequency

berth in American English

(bɜrθ )

noun

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

space for anchoring or tying up

a ship's place of anchorage

a position, place, office, job, etc.

a berth as chief engineer on the ship

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

any sleeping place

verb transitive

to put into a berth

to furnish with a berth

verb intransitive

to come into or occupy a berth

Idioms:

give (a) wide berth to

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?

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

View usage for:

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
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: ที่นอนในเรือหรือรถไฟ
Turkish: kabin
Ukrainian: спальне місце
Vietnamese: giường ngủ trên tàu

British English: berth VERB

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
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

Translate your text for free

Nearby words of
berth

Related terms of
berth

Source

Definition of berth from the Collins English Dictionary

New from Collins

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

Score: 0 / 5

complex plot or vegetable plot?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

vegetable plot

complex plot

The warm wet weather is working wonders on the .

field questions or raise questions?

Which version is correct?

The proposals also field questions about when workers should retire. The proposals also raise questions about when workers should retire.

cut the dividends or reap dividends?

Which version is correct?

Perhaps the companies could cut the dividends and use the money. Perhaps the companies could reap dividends and use the money.

civil action or swift action?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

swift action

civil action

Witnesses praised them for their .

long-term goal or winning goal?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

winning goal

long-term goal

I scored the with ten minutes to go.

Your score:

Jan 06, 2021

Word of the day

cli-fi

a genre of science-fiction concerned with the effects of climate change

SEE FULL DEFINITION

SEE PREVIOUS WORDS

Latest Word Submissions

rainscaping Dec 23, 2020

openwashing Dec 23, 2020

vaxxie Dec 23, 2020

left on read Dec 23, 2020

View More Submit

New hope for the New Year

New Year’s Eve is traditionally when we fix our gaze firmly forward in hope, having cast a backward glance at the year just ended. Which, despite the negatives, saw a healthy increase in good-neighbourliness and kindness as demonstrated, for instance, by caremongering. Read more

Food for thought this Christmas

I don’t know about you, but I’m already salivating at the prospect of Christmas food. The first pangs start early in December with the nostalgia rush I get upon spotting dinky net bags of mixed nuts for sale. Read more

Eight Gaelic words from the Collins English Dictionary

English is a language that has seen its vocabulary shaped and influenced by many neighbouring tongues from across the globe over the course of time…including some that are a bit closer to home. Read more

Collins English Dictionary Apps

Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android. Read more

Collins Dictionaries for Schools

Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom. Read more

Word lists

We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots! Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge! Read more

Join the Collins community

All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month. Read more

Scrabble score
for 'berth':
10

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

Score: 0 / 5

fir or fur?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

fir

fur

It was a thick wood of and oak trees.

reek or wreak?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

wreak

reek

Violent storms could havoc on the French Riviera.

knight or night?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

knight

night

Who is the in shining armour?

taught or taut?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

taut

taught

The clothes line has been pulled .

carat or carrot?

Which version is correct?

You could hardly miss the huge eight-carat diamond. You could hardly miss the huge eight-carrot diamond.

Your score:

Definition of 'berth'

berth

Video: pronunciation of berth

berth in British English

berth in American English

Examples of 'berth' in a sentence berth

Word lists with berth

More idioms containing berth

Trends of berth

In other languages berth

Nearby words of berth

Related terms of berth

Source

Video: pronunciation of
berth

Examples of 'berth' in a sentence
berth

Word lists with
berth

More idioms containing
berth

Trends of
berth

In other languages
berth

Nearby words of
berth

Related terms of
berth