a vessel, especially a large oceangoing one propelled by sails or engines.
Nautical.
a sailing vessel square-rigged on all of three or more masts, having jibs, staysails, and a spanker on the aftermost mast.
Now Rare.a bark having more than three masts.Compare shipentine.
the crew and, sometimes, the passengers of a vessel: The captain gave shore leave to the whole ship.
an airship, airplane, or spacecraft.
verb (used with object),shipped,ship·ping.
to put or take on board a ship or other means of transportation; to send or transport by ship, rail, truck, plane, etc.
Nautical. to take in (water) over the side, as a vessel does when waves break over it.
to bring (an object) into a ship or boat.
to engage (someone) for service on a ship.
to fix in a ship or boat in the proper place for use.
to place (an oar) in proper position for rowing.Compare boat (def. 10).
to send away: They shipped the kids off to camp for the summer.
verb (used without object),shipped,ship·ping.
to go on board or travel by ship; embark.
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
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.
Informal.to quit, resign, or be fired from a job: Shape up or ship out!
Idioms for ship
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.
run a tight ship, to exercise a close, strict control over a ship's crew, a company, an organization, or the like.
when one's ship comes in / home, when one's fortune is assured: She'll buy a house when her ship comes in.
Origin of ship
1
First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English noun scip, scipp; cognate with Dutch schip, German Schiff, Old Norse, Gothic skip; the verb is derivative of the noun
OTHER WORDS FROM ship
ship·less,adjectiveship·less·ly,adverbmis·ship,verb,mis·shipped,mis·ship·ping.pre·ship,verb (used with object),pre·shipped,pre·ship·ping.
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.
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!
Origin of ship
2
First recorded in 1995–2000; shortening of relationship
Definition for ship (3 of 3)
-ship
a native English suffix of nouns denoting condition, character, office, skill, etc.: clerkship; friendship; statesmanship.
Origin of -ship
Middle English, Old English -scipe; akin to shape; cognate with dialectal Frisian, dialectal Dutch schip
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
nauticala large sailing vessel with three or more square-rigged masts
the crew of a ship
short for airship, spaceship
informalany vehicle or conveyance
when one's ship comes inwhen one has become successful or wealthy
verbships, shippingorshipped
to place, transport, or travel on any conveyance, esp aboard a shipship the microscopes by aeroplane; can we ship tomorrow?
(tr)nauticalto take (water) over the side
to bring or go aboard a vesselto ship oars
(tr often foll by off) informalto send away, often in order to be rid ofthey shipped the children off to boarding school
(intr)to engage to serve aboard a shipI shipped aboard a Liverpool liner
informal(tr)to concede (a goal)Celtic have shipped eight goals in three away matches
See also ship out
Derived forms of ship
shippable, adjective
Word Origin for ship
Old English scip; related to Old Norse skip, Old High German skif ship, scipfī cup
British Dictionary definitions for ship (2 of 2)
-ship
suffix forming nouns
indicating state or conditionfellowship
indicating rank, office, or positionlordship
indicating craft or skillhorsemanship; workmanship; scholarship