Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense ships, present participle shipping, past tense, past participle shipped
1. countable noun [oft byNOUN]
A ship is a large boat which carries passengers or cargo.
Within ninety minutes the ship was ready for departure.
We went by ship over to America.
...merchant ships.
Synonyms: vessel, boat, craft, liner More Synonyms of ship
2. verb [usually passive]
If people or things are shipped somewhere, they are sent there on a ship or by some other means of transport.
The siblings were shipped to a local orphanage. [beVERB-ed preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: send, take, run, bring More Synonyms of ship
3. See also shipping
Phrasal verbs:
See ship out
ship in British English1
(ʃɪp)
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. nautical
a large sailing vessel with three or more square-rigged masts
3.
the crew of a ship
4. short for airship, spaceship
5. informal
any vehicle or conveyance
6. when one's ship comes in
verbWord forms: ships, shipping or shipped
7.
to place, transport, or travel on any conveyance, esp aboard a ship
ship the microscopes by aeroplane
can we ship tomorrow?
8. (transitive) nautical
to take (water) over the side
9.
to bring or go aboard a vessel
to ship oars
10. (transitive; often foll byoff) informal
to send away, often in order to be rid of
they shipped the children off to boarding school
11. (intransitive)
to engage to serve aboard a ship
I shipped aboard a Liverpool liner
12. informal(transitive)
to concede (a goal)
they have shipped eight goals in three away matches
Derived forms
shippable (ˈshippable)
adjective
Word origin
Old English scip; related to Old Norse skip, Old High German skif ship, scipfī cup
ship in British English(esp in fan fiction)2
(ʃɪp) slang
noun
1.
a relationship, esp one of a romantic nature
verb
2. (transitive)
to promote or endorse a romantic relationship between (two characters)
Word origin
C20: shortened from relationship
-ship in British English
suffix forming nouns
1.
indicating state or condition
fellowship
2.
indicating rank, office, or position
lordship
3.
indicating craft or skill
horsemanship
workmanship
scholarship
Word origin
Old English -scipe; compare shape
ship in American English
(ʃɪp)
noun
1.
any water vehicle of considerable size navigating deep water, esp. one powered by an engine
2.
a water vehicle for sailing, with a bowsprit and at least three square-rigged masts, each composed of lower, top, and topgallant members
3.
a ship's officers and crew
4.
an aircraft
verb transitiveWord forms: shipped or ˈshipping
5.
to put or take on board a ship
6. US
to send or transport by any carrier
to ship cattle by rail
7.
to take in (water) over the gunwale or side, as in a heavy sea
8.
to put or fix (an object) in its proper place on a ship or boat
ship the oars
9.
to engage (a person or persons) for work on a ship
10. Informal
to send (away, out, etc.); get rid of
verb intransitive
11.
to go aboard ship; embark
12.
to engage to serve on a ship
13.
to travel by ship
Idioms:
ship over
ship out
the Ship
when (or if, etc.) one's ship comes in (or home)
Word origin
ME < OE scip, akin to Ger schiff, ON skip < IE *skeib- < *skei-, to cut, separate (> L scindere, to cut), extension of base *sek-, to cut (> saw1): basic sense “hollowed-out tree trunk”
-ship in American English
(ʃɪp)
1.
the quality, condition, or state of being
hardship, friendship
2.
a.
the rank or office of
professorship
b.
a person having the rank or status of
lordship
3.
ability or skill as
statesmanship
4.
all individuals (of the specified class) collectively
readership
Word origin
ME < OE -scipe (akin to Ger -schaft, Du -scap) < base of scieppan, to create: see shape
ship in Retail
(ʃɪp)
Word forms: (present) ships, (past) shipped, (perfect) shipped, (progressive) shipping
verb
(Retail: Distribution)
When goods that have been ordered are shipped, they are sent out, by sea, air, train, or road, by a supplier for delivery to the customer.
Products will typically be shipped within two business days after an order is placed and confirmation will be providedvia e-mail.
We will send you an email when your order is shipped from our warehouse.
When goods that have been ordered are shipped, they are sent out, by sea, air, train, or road, by a supplier for delivery to thecustomer.
shipment, shipper
More idioms containing
ship
shape up or ship out
abandon a sinking ship
jump ship
run a tight ship
when someone's ship comes in
Examples of 'ship' in a sentence
ship
Merchants and ship owners would visit to swap information and insure their vessels.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Is not such a vessel a ship?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
To stave off the injuries and stop shipping goals away from home.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We were the last life raft to get away from the ship.
The Sun (2007)
They decided to set up a central transport and shipping department to do this.
Thompson, Sir Peter Sharing the Success - the story of NFC (1990)
The crew abandoned ship and took shelter in a nearby village.
The Sun (2014)
There are benefits and disadvantages to both large and small ships.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The few cruise ships that visit bring little economic benefit to the island.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We eat the same food rations we eat aboard ship.
Asimov, Isaac The Complete Stories Volume 2 (1995)
Within ninety minutes the ship was ready for departure.
Eaton, John P & Haas, Charles A Titanic - Destination disaster (1987)
Boats from the ships and the fort were used to tow down rafts of timber for firewood.
Glyn Williams VOYAGES OF DELUSION: The Search for the North West Passage in the Age of Reason (2002)
He was charged with attacking enemy shipping or vessels that might be carrying war supplies.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
But shipping three goals and two points at the last?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Then they get shipped away for fitting to the spacecraft.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
From the transport ships came the landing craft with various initials that brought the troops ashore.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
They would have come with merchants by land or aboard ships.
The Sun (2015)
The captain said that he was told by management to bring the ship closer to the shore that night.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
So they may be more ready to jump ship without thinking for a moment what they are letting themselves in for.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Similar choices face our defence industry in areas such as armoured vehicles, surface ships and helicopters.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In fact, they were dressed just as they were when they boarded the ship.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This consisted of 16 merchant ships escorted by warships.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Surely the ship's crew would be aware of such elementary hazards.
Baxter, Stephen Anti-Ice (1993)
The largest sailing ship on Earth is something to behold.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Once out of the country, the vehicles can be shipped anywhere in the world.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They post the scheduled times of departure of the big ships - liners and containers - on notices around the village.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Quotations
Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing; Only a signal shown and a distant voice in the darknessHenry Wadsworth LongfellowTales of a Wayside Inn
In other languages
ship
British English: ship /ʃɪp/ NOUN
A ship is a large boat which carries passengers or cargo.
The ship was ready to sail.
American English: ship
Arabic: سَفِينَة
Brazilian Portuguese: navio
Chinese: 船
Croatian: brod
Czech: loď
Danish: skib
Dutch: schip
European Spanish: embarcación
Finnish: laiva
French: navire
German: Schiff
Greek: πλοίο
Italian: nave
Japanese: 船
Korean: 선박
Norwegian: skip
Polish: statek
European Portuguese: navio
Romanian: navă
Russian: корабль
Latin American Spanish: embarcación
Swedish: fartyg
Thai: เรือ
Turkish: gemi
Ukrainian: корабель
Vietnamese: con tàu
British English: ship VERB
If people or things are shipped somewhere, they are sent there on a ship or by some other means of transport.
Food is being shipped to the drought-stricken area.
American English: ship
Brazilian Portuguese: transportar
Chinese: 运送
European Spanish: enviar
French: transporter par mer
German: verschiffen
Italian: trasportare via mare
Japanese: 輸送される
Korean: 수송되다
European Portuguese: transportar
Latin American Spanish: enviar
All related terms of 'ship'
Q-ship
a merchant ship with concealed guns , used to decoy enemy ships into the range of its weapons
drop-ship
To drop-ship an item is to have it sent direct from your supplier to your customer . This is a common method of fulfilling online orders.
fire ship
a ship filled with explosive materials, set afire and floated among an enemy's ships to destroy them
flak ship
a ship heavily armed with anti-aircraft weapons , used to protect other vessels from air attack
jump ship
to leave an organization or cause, either because you think it is about to fail or because you want to join a rival organization
ship out
If someone ships out , they leave a place, especially by ship.
ship over
to enlist or reenlist in the U.S. Navy
spy ship
a ship carrying surveillance equipment , used to secretly observe an enemy state from the sea
tall ship
A tall ship is a sailing ship which has very tall masts and square sails .
the Ship
the constellation → Argo
wear ship
to change the tack of a sailing vessel, esp a square-rigger , by coming about so that the wind passes astern
about-ship
to manoeuvre a vessel onto a new tack
cargo ship
a ship carrying cargo
cruise ship
A cruise ship is a large ship which takes people from place to place on a cruise holiday , and on which entertainment , food, and drink are provided.
depot ship
a ship providing supplies and facilities for other vessels or naval bases
dress ship
to decorate a vessel by displaying all signal flags on lines run from the bow to the stern over the mast trucks
drill ship
A drill ship is a ship which has been modified to include a drilling rig .
hotel ship
a ship which is moored and used as a hotel
mother ship
a ship providing facilities and supplies for a number of small vessels
motor ship
a ship propelled by an internal-combustion engine or engines
pirate ship
a sailing vessel used by a person who commits robbery on the seas
rocket ship
a spacecraft powered by rockets
school ship
a ship for training young people in seamanship , for a career in the regular or merchant navy
ship-broker
a person who acts for a shipowner by getting cargo and passengers for his or her ships and also handling insurance and other matters
ship canal
a canal constructed to carry ocean-going ships
ship money
a tax levied to finance the fitting out of warships : abolished 1640
ship-rigged
rigged as a full-rigged ship
slave ship
a ship used to transport slaves , esp formerly from Africa to the New World
supply ship
a ship that provides essential food and equipment to other ships or to offshore oil platforms
survey ship
a vessel designed to carry out research and surveying
tight ship
an institution , business, etc. that is highly organized and efficiently run , like a naval vessel on which discipline is strictly enforced
abandon ship
If people abandon ship , they get off a ship because it is sinking.
capital ship
one of the largest and most heavily armed ships in a naval fleet
drilling ship
a ship provided with drilling equipment and used esp for carrying out test drills
factory ship
A factory ship is a large fishing boat which has equipment for processing the fish that are caught, for example by cleaning or freezing them, before it returns to port .
hospital ship
a ship used in wars to provide hospital facilities , usually for the armed services
landing ship
any of various ships designed for transporting troops and heavy equipment in amphibious warfare , capable of making assault landings directly onto a beach
liberty ship
(in World War II) a US supply ship
merchant ship
a ship which is part of a nation's commercial shipping
recovery ship
a naval vessel designed to participate in the retrieval of a satellite , instrument package , or spaceship after it has re-entered the atmosphere and landed in the ocean
sailing ship
A sailing ship is a large ship with sails , especially of the kind that was used to carry passengers or cargo .
ship biscuit
→ hardtack
ship chandler
a person or business dealing in supplies for ships
ship's boy
a young man or boy employed to attend the needs of passengers or officers aboard ship
training ship
a ship equipped for training novices in seamanship , esp for naval service
weather ship
a ship formerly used to collect meteorological information
whaling ship
a ship engaged in whaling
container ship
A container ship is a ship that is designed for carrying goods that are packed in large metal or wooden boxes .
passenger ship
a ship carrying passengers
ship of war
warship
Chinese translation of 'ship'
ship
(ʃɪp)
n(c)
船 (chuán) (艘, sōu)
vt
to ship sb/sth to运(運)送某人/某物到 (yùnsòng mǒurén/mǒuwù dào)
One of the best ways to see the area is in a small boat.
craft
We sighted a small craft on the horizon.
liner
(verb)
Definition
to send or transport by any carrier, esp. a ship
Food is being shipped to drought-stricken countries.
Synonyms
send
The space probe sent back pictures of Triton.
take
I'll take these papers home and read them.
run
Can you run me to work?
bring
My father brought home a book for me.
carry
He carried the plate through to the dining room.
bear
a surveyor and his assistant bearing a torch
transfer
The person can be transferred from wheelchair to seat with relative ease.
ferry
They ferried in more soldiers to help with the search.
convey
They borrowed our boats to convey themselves across the river.
see also subject word lists:
See Boats and ships
Quotation
Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing; Only a signal shown and a distant voice in the darkness [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow – Tales of a Wayside Inn]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bear
Definition
to bring
a surveyor and his assistant bearing a torch
Synonyms
carry,
take,
move,
bring,
lift,
transfer,
conduct,
transport,
haul,
transmit,
convey,
relay,
tote (informal),
hump (British, slang),
lug
in the sense of boat
Definition
a ship
One of the best ways to see the area is in a small boat.
Synonyms
vessel,
ship,
craft,
barge (informal),
watercraft,
barque (poetic)
in the sense of bring
Definition
to carry, convey, or take (something or someone) to a designated place or person
My father brought home a book for me.
Synonyms
fetch,
take,
carry,
bear,
transfer,
deliver,
transport,
import,
convey
Synonyms of 'ship'
ship
Explore 'ship' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of carry
Definition
to take from one place to another
He carried the plate through to the dining room.
Synonyms
convey,
take,
move,
bring,
bear,
lift,
transfer,
conduct,
transport,
haul,
transmit,
fetch,
relay,
cart,
tote (informal),
hump (British, slang),
lug
in the sense of convey
Definition
to carry or transport from one place to another
They borrowed our boats to convey themselves across the river.
Synonyms
carry,
transport,
move,
bring,
support,
bear,
conduct,
transmit,
fetch
in the sense of craft
Definition
a boat, ship, aircraft, or spacecraft
We sighted a small craft on the horizon.
Synonyms
vessel,
boat,
ship,
plane,
aircraft,
spacecraft,
barque
in the sense of ferry
Definition
to transport (passengers or goods) on a regular basis
They ferried in more soldiers to help with the search.
Synonyms
transport,
bring,
carry,
ship,
take,
run,
shuttle,
convey,
chauffeur
in the sense of run
Definition
to give a lift to (someone) in a vehicle
Can you run me to work?
Synonyms
give a lift to,
drive,
carry,
transport,
convey,
bear,
manoeuvre,
propel
in the sense of take
I'll take these papers home and read them.
Synonyms
carry,
bring,
bear,
transport,
ferry,
haul,
convey,
fetch,
cart,
tote (informal)
in the sense of transfer
Definition
to change or move from one thing, person, place, etc., to another
The person can be transferred from wheelchair to seat with relative ease.