Ship (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

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noun
  1. a vessel, especially a large oceangoing one propelled by sails or engines.
  2. Nautical.
    • a sailing vessel square-rigged on all of three or more masts, having jibs, staysails, and a spanker on the aftermost mast.
    • a bark having more than three masts.
  3. the crew and, sometimes, the passengers of a vessel: The captain gave shore leave to the whole ship.
  4. an airship, airplane, or spacecraft.
verb (used with object), shipped, ship·ping.
  1. to put or take on board a ship or other means of transportation; to send or transport by ship, rail, truck, plane, etc.
  2. to take in (water) over the side, as a vessel does when waves break over it.
  3. to bring (an object) into a ship or boat.
  4. to engage (someone) for service on a ship.
  5. to fix in a ship or boat in the proper place for use.
  6. to place (an oar) in proper position for rowing.
  7. to send away: They shipped the kids off to camp for the summer.
verb (used without object), shipped, ship·ping.
  1. to go on board or travel by ship; embark.
  2. to engage to serve on a ship.
    • to be sent or transported by ship, rail, truck, plane, etc.: Both packages shipped this morning.
    • to permit of being transported by any of these means:Fresh raspberries do not ship well.
Verb Phrases
  1. ship out,
    • to leave, especially for another country or assignment: He said goodbye to his family and shipped out for the West Indies.
    • to send away, especially to another country or assignment.
    • to quit, resign, or be fired from a job: Shape up or ship out!
Idioms
  1. jump ship,
    • to escape from a ship, especially one in foreign waters or a foreign port, as to avoid further service as a sailor or to request political asylum.
    • to withdraw support or membership from a group, organization, cause, etc.; defect or desert: Some of the more liberal members have jumped ship.
  2. to exercise a close, strict control over a ship's crew, a company, an organization, or the like.
  3. when one's fortune is assured: She'll buy a house when her ship comes in.
noun
  1. a romantic relationship between fictional characters, as in fan fiction, or between famous people, whether or not the romance actually exists in the book, show, etc., or in real life:the TV show's most popular ships.
verb (used with or without object), shipped, ship·ping.
  1. to take an interest in or hope for a romantic relationship between (fictional characters or famous people), whether or not the romance actually exists: I'm shipping those guys—they would make a great couple!
  1. a native English suffix of nouns denoting condition, character, office, skill, etc.: clerkship; friendship; statesmanship.
noun
  1. a vessel propelled by engines or sails for navigating on the water, esp a large vessel that cannot be carried aboard another, as distinguished from a boat
  2. a large sailing vessel with three or more square-rigged masts
  3. the crew of a ship
  4. short for airship, spaceship
  5. any vehicle or conveyance
  6. when one has become successful or wealthy
verb ships, shipping or shipped
  1. to place, transport, or travel on any conveyance, esp aboard a ship
  2. to take (water) over the side
  3. to bring or go aboard a vessel
  4. to send away, often in order to be rid of
  5. to engage to serve aboard a ship
  6. to concede (a goal)
suffix forming nouns
  1. indicating state or condition
  2. indicating rank, office, or position
  3. indicating craft or skill
Ship (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

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