Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense docks, present participle docking, past tense, past participle docked
1. countable noun [oft in/intoN]
A dock is an enclosed area in a harbour where ships go to be loaded, unloaded, and repaired.
...the loading dock.
She headed for the docks, thinking that Ricardo might be hiding in one of the boats.
What other ships are in dock here?
2. verb
When a ship docks or is docked, it is brought into a dock.
The vessel docked at Liverpool in April 1811. [VERB]
Russian commanders docked a huge aircraft carrier in a Russian port. [VERB noun]
The aircraft carrier has been docked there since last month. [VERB-ed]
3. verb
When one spacecraft docks or is dockedwith another, the two crafts join together in space.
The shuttle should be capable of docking with other spacecraft in orbit. [VERB + with]
They have docked a robot module alongside the orbiting space station. [VERB noun preposition]
The shuttle was docked at the International Space Station 220 miles above Earth. [VERB-ed]
4. countable noun
A dock is a platform for loading vehicles or trains.
[US]
The truck left the loading dock with hoses still attached.
5. countable noun
A dock is a small structure at the edge of water where boats can tie up, especially one that is privately owned.
[US]
He had a house there and a dock and a little aluminum boat.
6. singular noun
In a law court, thedock is where the person accused of a crime stands or sits.
What about the odd chance that you do put an innocent man in the dock?
7. verb
If you dock someone's wages or money, you take some of the money away. If you dock someone points in a contest, you take away some of the points that they have.
He threatens to dock her fee. [VERB noun]
To dock points would be wrong. [VERB noun]
[Also VERB noun noun]
Synonyms: cut, reduce, decrease, diminish More Synonyms of dock
8. variable noun
A dock is a plant with large leaves which grows wild in Britain, the United States, and some other northern countries. Dock leaves are supposed to heal nettle stings.
9. See also dry dock
More Synonyms of dock
dock in British English1
(dɒk)
noun
1.
a wharf or pier
2.
a space between two wharves or piers for the mooring of ships
3.
an area of water that can accommodate a ship and can be closed off to allow regulation of the water level
4. short for dry dock
5.
an electrical unit onto which a mobile device may be placed for charging; a docking station
6. short for scene dock
7. mainly US and Canadian
a platform from which lorries, goods trains, etc, are loaded and unloaded
verb
8.
to moor (a vessel) at a dock or (of a vessel) to be moored at a dock
9.
to put (a vessel) into a dry dock for repairs or (of a vessel) to come into a dry dock
10.
(of two spacecraft) to link together in space or link together (two spacecraft) in space
11.
to attach (a piece of electrical equipment) to another
Word origin
C14: from Middle Dutch docke; perhaps related to Latin ducere to lead
dock in British English2
(dɒk)
noun
1.
the bony part of the tail of an animal, esp a dog or sheep
2.
the part of an animal's tail left after the major part of it has been cut off
verb(transitive)
3.
to remove (the tail or part of the tail) of (an animal) by cutting through the bone
to dock a tail
to dock a horse
4.
to deduct (an amount) from (a person's wages, pension, etc)
they docked a third of his wages
Word origin
C14: dok, of uncertain origin
dock in British English3
(dɒk)
noun
an enclosed space in a court of law where the accused sits or stands during his or her trial
Word origin
C16: from Flemish dok sty
dock in British English4
(dɒk)
noun
1.
any of various temperate weedy plants of the polygonaceous genus Rumex, having greenish or reddish flowers and typically broad leaves
2.
any of several similar or related plants
Word origin
Old English docce; related to Middle Dutch, Old Danish docke, Gaelic dogha
dock in American English1
(dɑk)
noun
1.
a large structure or excavated basin for receiving ships, equipped with gates to keep water in or out
2. US
a landing pier; wharf
3.
the area of water between two landing piers
4. US
a platform at which trucks or freight cars are loaded and unloaded
5. US
a building, platform, or area for servicing aircraft
verb transitive
6.
to bring or pilot (a ship) to or into a dock and moor it
7. US
to join (vehicles) together in outer space
verb intransitive
8.
to come to or into a dock and moor
9. US
to join up with another vehicle in outer space
Word origin
orig., mud channel made by a vessel's bottom at low tide: hence, dock < MDu docke, channel < It doccia, conduit, canal: see douche
dock in American English2
(dɑk)
noun
1.
the solid part of an animal's tail, excluding the hair
2.
an animal's bobbed tail
verb transitive
3.
to cut off the end of (a tail, etc.); clip or bob
4.
to shorten the tail of by cutting
5.
to deduct a part from (wages, etc.)
6.
to deduct a part from the wages of
7.
to remove part of
Word origin
ME dok < OE -docca or ON dockr, a short, stumpy tail, akin to dock4
dock in American English3
(dɑk)
noun
the place where the accused stands or sits in court
Word origin
< Fl docke, dok, hutch, pen, cage
dock in American English4
(dɑk)
noun
any of various tall, coarse weeds (genus Rumex) of the buckwheat family, with stout taproots, small green or brown flowers, and large leaves
see also sorrel1
Word origin
ME dokke < OE docce, akin to MHG tocke, bundle, tuft
Examples of 'dock' in a sentence
dock
They should now be put in the dock.
The Sun (2016)
In the morning we dock and the ship goes quiet.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She emerged from dry dock with the new hull design this week.
The Sun (2016)
The boat docked in Boston earlier this week.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
YOU arrive in the loading dock and proceed up 4 stairs.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And the fun doesn't end when the ship docks in ports across the Med this summer.
The Sun (2017)
IT'S high time that these sorry excuses for parents were in the dock alongside their sons.
The Sun (2009)
Those who carried on working had their wages docked for another two years.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He had become trapped between a disused fishing boat and the dock wall.
The Sun (2014)
Nadir should be put in the dock.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The show will join the ship after its time in dry dock this autumn.
The Sun (2014)
Two were in the dock to enter their pleas.
The Sun (2007)
He appeared in the dock alongside a former business partner.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The city is also deepening its harbour so that six big cruise ships can dock at the same time.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The whole team should be docked one fifth of their match fee for failing to take the game into a fifth day.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Some cruise lines refuse to equip guards with small arms because it is forbidden in some of the ports where they dock.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The ferry docks on the harbour shore of Manly.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
So would Brand support the abolition of the dock in courts?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He was docked five days' pay.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Three large dry docks were built at the end of the 19th century to repair and refit warships.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But the organisers are trying to remind the global elite that they are still in the dock in the international court of public opinion.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The election began with politics in the dock, dogged by the expenses scandal and facing a crisis of trust.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Some 500,000 people a year visit the vessel in dry dock at Portsmouth.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Inspired by the scale and appearance of an industrial dock, the huge eruptions of scaffolding tower over you like a quayside full of rusty cranes.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We'd dock in a harbour at night, or sometimes sleep while the boat sailed on.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Three Polish men were arrested and released without charge after the discovery in the docks area of Cardiff.
The Sun (2007)
In other languages
dock
British English: dock /dɒk/ NOUN
A dock is an enclosed area of water where ships are loaded, unloaded, or repaired.
She headed for the docks.
American English: dock
Arabic: حَوْضُ السُّفْن
Brazilian Portuguese: doca
Chinese: 码头
Croatian: dok pristanište
Czech: dok
Danish: dok
Dutch: dok
European Spanish: dársena dársena
Finnish: laituri satamalaituri
French: dock
German: Dock Schiff
Greek: αποβάθρα
Italian: molo
Japanese: ドック
Korean: 선거
Norwegian: havn
Polish: dok
European Portuguese: doca
Romanian: doc
Russian: док
Latin American Spanish: muelle embarcadero
Swedish: docka för båtar
Thai: อู่เรือ
Turkish: dok
Ukrainian: док
Vietnamese: bến tàu
British English: dock VERB
When a ship docks or is docked, it is brought into a dock.
The vessel docked there first.
There were two ships docked there.
American English: dock
Brazilian Portuguese: atracar
Chinese: 停靠码头
European Spanish: atracar
French: mettre à quai
German: anlegen
Italian: entrare in porto
Japanese: 埠頭につく
Korean: 부두에 닿다
European Portuguese: atracar
Latin American Spanish: atracar
Chinese translation of 'dock'
dock
(dɔk)
n
(c) (Naut) 船坞(塢) (chuánwù) (个(個), gè)
the dock (in law court) 刑事法庭的被告席 (xíngshì fǎtíng de bèigàoxí)
(c/u) (Bot) 一种阔叶野草，名为酸模
vi
[ship]入船坞(塢) (rù chuánwù)
[spacecraft]对(對)接 (duìjiē)
vt
[salary, wages]扣减(減) (kòujiǎn)
[ship]靠码(碼)头(頭) (kào mǎtou)
[spacecraft]使对(對)接 (shǐ duìjiē)
Derived Forms
docksn pl (Naut) 港区(區) (gǎngqū)
(noun)
Definition
a wharf or pier
He brought his boat right into the dock at Southampton.
Synonyms
port
an attractive little fishing port
haven
She lay alongside in Largs Yacht Haven for a few days.
harbour
The ship was allowed to tie up in the harbour.
pier
The lifeboats were moored at the pier.
wharf
There were three teenagers fishing from the wharf.
quay
Jack and Stephen were waiting for them on the quay.
waterfront
anchorage
The vessel yesterday reached anchorage off Dubai.
1 (verb)
Definition
to moor or be moored at a dock
The vessel is about to dock in Singapore.
Synonyms
moor
She had moored her boat on the right bank of the river.
land
The jet landed after a flight of just under three hours.
anchor
The ship was anchored by the pier.
put in
tie up
berth
The ship berthed in New York.
drop anchor
2 (verb)
Definition
to link (two spacecraft) or (of two spacecraft) to be linked together in space
The rocket has docked with the International Space Station.
Synonyms
link up
unite
They have agreed to unite their efforts to bring peace.
join
The opened link is used to join the two ends of the chain.
couple
rendezvous
hook up
1 (verb)
He threatened to dock her fee.
Synonyms
cut
The first priority is to cut costs.
reduce
Consumption is being reduced by 25 per cent.
decrease
The medication is said to decrease the risk of heart attack.
diminish
Federalism is intended to diminish the power of the central state.
cut back
lessen
Keep immunisations up to date to lessen the risk of serious illness.
Opposites
increase,
raise
,
boost
,
augment
2 (verb)
Definition
to deduct (an amount) from (a person's wages)
He had a point docked for insulting his opponent.
Synonyms
deduct
Marks will be deducted for spelling mistakes.
remove
He removed his jacket.
take off
discount
debit
knock off
subtract
Subtract the date of birth from the date of death.
3 (verb)
Definition
to remove part of (an animal's tail) by cutting through the bone
It is an offence for an unqualified person to dock a dog's tail.
Synonyms
cut off
crop
She cropped her hair and dyed it blonde.
clip
I saw an old man out clipping his hedge.
shorten
The day surgery will help to shorten waiting lists.
curtail
NATO plans to curtail the number of troops being sent to the region.
The celebrations had to be curtailed because of bad weather.