berth

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Related to berth: wide berth

berth

a built-in bed or bunk: Joey wants to sleep on the top berth.; a docking space

Not to be confused with:

birth – beginning of existence; origin: the birth of the blues

berth

(bûrth)

1. Sufficient space for a vessel to maneuver; sea room: kept a clear berth of the reefs.

2. A space for a vessel to dock or anchor: a steamship moored to its berth at the pier.

a. Employment on a vessel: sought an officer's berth in the merchant marine.

b. A job: a comfortable berth as head of the department.

a. A built-in bed or bunk, as on a ship or a train.

b. A place to sleep or stay; accommodations: found a berth in a nearby hotel.

5. A space where a vehicle can be parked, as for loading.

v. berthed, berth·ing, berths

v.tr.

1. To bring (a vessel) to a berth.

2. To provide with a berth.

v.intr.

To come to a berth; dock.

Idiom:

a wide berth

Ample space or distance to avoid an unwanted consequence: gave their angry colleague a wide berth.

[Middle English birth; perhaps akin to beren, to bear; see bear¹.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

berth

(bɜːθ)

1. a bed or bunk in a vessel or train, usually narrow and fixed to a wall

2. (Nautical Terms) nautical a place assigned to a ship at a mooring

3. (Nautical Terms) nautical sufficient distance from the shore or from other ships or objects for a ship to manoeuvre

4. give a wide berth to to keep clear of; avoid

5. (Nautical Terms) nautical accommodation on a ship

6. informal a job, esp as a member of a ship's crew

7. (Nautical Terms) (tr) nautical to assign a berth to (a vessel)

8. (Nautical Terms) nautical to dock (a vessel)

9. (tr) to provide with a sleeping place, as on a vessel or train

10. (Nautical Terms) (intr) nautical to pick up a mooring in an anchorage

[C17: probably from bear¹ + -th¹]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

berth

(bɜrθ)
n.

1. a shelflike sleeping space, as on a railroad car.

a. a space allotted for a ship to dock or lie at anchor.

b. a safe distance, as between a vessel and the shore.

3. a job; place.

v.t.

a. to allot a berth to (a ship).

b. to bring to or install in a berth or moorage.

v.i.

5. to come to a dock or moorage.

Idioms:

give a wide berth to, to keep a careful distance from; shun.

[1615–25]

berth

Past participle: berthed
Gerund: berthing

Imperative
berth
berth

Present
I berth
you berth
he/she/it berths
we berth
you berth
they berth

Preterite
I berthed
you berthed
he/she/it berthed
we berthed
you berthed
they berthed

Present Continuous
I am berthing
you are berthing
he/she/it is berthing
we are berthing
you are berthing
they are berthing

Present Perfect
I have berthed
you have berthed
he/she/it has berthed
we have berthed
you have berthed
they have berthed

Past Continuous
I was berthing
you were berthing
he/she/it was berthing
we were berthing
you were berthing
they were berthing

Past Perfect
I had berthed
you had berthed
he/she/it had berthed
we had berthed
you had berthed
they had berthed

Future
I will berth
you will berth
he/she/it will berth
we will berth
you will berth
they will berth

Future Perfect
I will have berthed
you will have berthed
he/she/it will have berthed
we will have berthed
you will have berthed
they will have berthed

Future Continuous
I will be berthing
you will be berthing
he/she/it will be berthing
we will be berthing
you will be berthing
they will be berthing

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been berthing
you have been berthing
he/she/it has been berthing
we have been berthing
you have been berthing
they have been berthing

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been berthing
you will have been berthing
he/she/it will have been berthing
we will have been berthing
you will have been berthing
they will have been berthing

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been berthing
you had been berthing
he/she/it had been berthing
we had been berthing
you had been berthing
they had been berthing

Conditional
I would berth
you would berth
he/she/it would berth
we would berth
you would berth
they would berth

Past Conditional
I would have berthed
you would have berthed
he/she/it would have berthed
we would have berthed
you would have berthed
they would have berthed

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

berth

Place reserved for a boat at mooring.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	berth - a job in an organization; "he occupied a post in the treasury" billet, post, situation, position, office, place, spot job, line of work, occupation, business, line - the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money; "he's not in my line of business" academicianship - the position of member of an honorary academy accountantship - the position of accountant admiralty - the office of admiral ambassadorship - the post of ambassador apostleship - the position of apostle apprenticeship - the position of apprentice associateship - the position of associate (as in an office or academy) attorneyship - the position of attorney bailiffship - the office of bailiff baronetage - the state of a baronet bishopry, episcopate - the office and dignity of a bishop cadetship - the position of cadet caliphate - the office of a caliph captaincy, captainship - the post of captain cardinalship - the office of cardinal chairmanship - the position of chairman chancellorship - the office of chancellor chaplaincy, chaplainship - the position of chaplain chieftaincy, chieftainship - the position of chieftain clerkship - the job of clerk commandership, commandery - the position or office of commander comptrollership - the position of comptroller consulship - the post of consul controllership - the position of controller councillorship, councilorship - the position of council member counsellorship, counselorship - the position of counselor curacy - the position of a curate curatorship - the position of curator custodianship - the position of custodian deanship, deanery - the position or office of a dean directorship - the position of a director of a business concern discipleship - the position of disciple editorship - the position of editor eldership - the office of elder emirate - the office of an emir fatherhood - the status of a father fatherhood - the status of a religious leader foremanship - the position of foreman generalcy, generalship - the office and authority of a general governorship - the office of governor headship - the position of head headship - the position of headmaster or headmistress hot seat - a difficult position where you are subjected to stress and criticism incumbency - the office of an incumbent inspectorship - the office of inspector instructorship - the position of instructor internship - the position of a medical intern judgeship, judicature - the position of judge khanate - the position of a khan lectureship - the post of lecturer legateship, legation - the post or office of legate legislatorship - the office of legislator librarianship - the position of librarian lieutenancy - the position of a lieutenant magistracy, magistrature - the position of magistrate managership - the position of manager manhood - the status of being a man marshalship - the post of marshall mastership - the position of master mayoralty - the position of mayor messiahship - the position of messiah moderatorship - the position of moderator overlordship - the position of overlord pastorship, pastorate - the position of pastor peasanthood - the state of being a peasant; "the same homely dress she wore in the days of her peasanthood" plum - a highly desirable position or assignment; "a political plum" praetorship - the office of praetor precentorship - the position of precentor preceptorship - the position of preceptor prefecture - the office of prefect prelacy, prelature - the office or station of a prelate
	2.	berth - a place where a craft can be made fast mooring, moorage, slip anchorage ground, anchorage - place for vessels to anchor
	3.	berth - a bed on a ship or train; usually in tiers built in bed, bunk bed - a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep; "he sat on the edge of the bed"; "the room had only a bed and chair" lower, lower berth - the lower of two berths upper, upper berth - the higher of two berths
Verb	1.	berth - provide with a berth furnish, provide, supply, render - give something useful or necessary to; "We provided the room with an electrical heater"
	2.	berth - secure in or as if in a berth or dock; "tie up the boat" moor, tie up wharf - moor at a wharf; "The ship was wharfed" fasten, fix, secure - cause to be firmly attached; "fasten the lock onto the door"; "she fixed her gaze on the man"
	3.	berth - come into or dock at a wharf; "the big ship wharfed in the evening" moor, wharf dock - come into dock; "the ship docked"

berth

noun

1. bunk, bed, cot (Nautical), hammock, billet Golding booked a berth on the first boat he could.

2. (Nautical) anchorage, haven, slip, port, harbour, dock, pier, wharf, quay A ship has applied to leave its berth.

3. job, position, post, situation, employment, appointment, living some of the players who tried for a berth on the team

verb

1. (Nautical) anchor, job, land, dock, moor, tie up, drop anchor The ship berthed in New York.

give something a wide berth avoid, shun, steer clear of, sidestep, keep away from, keep aloof from She gives showbiz parties a wide berth.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

berth

noun

A post of employment:

appointment, billet, job, office, place, position, situation, slot, spot.

Slang: gig.

verb

To provide with often temporary lodging:

accommodate, bed (down), bestow, billet, board, bunk, domicile, harbor, house, lodge, put up, quarter, room.

Translations

سَرِيرٌ بِقِطارِ أَوْ سَفِينَةمَرْبِط السُّفُن، مَرْسىمَقْصورةُ نَوْمٍ للرُّكّاب في سَفينَهيَرْبُط، يُرْسي السَّفينَه

lůžkozakotvitkabinakotvištělehátko

køjelægge til kajkajplads

Koje Liegeplatz anlegen

κουκέτα

amarra atracadero atraque litera

punkkavuodepaikka junassa tai laivalla

couchette gisement aborder amarrer

brodski ležaj

horgonyzóhely

lægileggja aî, koma í lægisvefnpláss, koja

cuccetta ancorare ormeggio assegnare una cuccetta attraccare

寝台

침대

gultaslaivo švartavimosi vietaprisišvartuotiprišvartuoti

enkurvietaguļvietakojanoenkurot

aanleggen aanmeren ligplaats slaapplaats

køye legge til kai liggeplass soveplass bryggeplass

koja

leito

койка

miesto na kotvenie

kajplats

ที่นอนในเรือหรือรถไฟ

kabin kuşetpalamar yeriranzarıhtıma yanaş mak

giường ngủ trên tàu

卧铺住舱停泊停泊地

berth

[bɜːθ]

A. N

1. (on ship, train) (= cabin) → camarote m; (= bunk) → litera f

2. (Naut) (at wharf) → amarradero m; (in marina etc) → punto m de atraque
to give sb a wide berth → evitar el encuentro con algn

B. VI (Naut) → atracar

C. VT (Naut) → atracar

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

berth

[ˈbɜː^rθ]

(= bed) → couchette f

(for ship) → poste m d'amarrage, mouillage m
to give sb/sth a wide berth → éviter qn/qch

(in harbour) → accoster

(at anchor) → mouiller

berth

(on ship) → Koje f; (on train) → Schlafwagenplatz m

(Naut, for ship) → Liegeplatz m

(Naut, = sea-room) → Raum m; to give a wide berth to a ship → Abstand zu einem Schiff halten; to give somebody/something a wide berth (fig) → einen (weiten) Bogen um jdn/etw machen

vi → anlegen

vt to berth a ship → mit einem Schiff (am Kai) anlegen; (= assign berth to) → einem Schiff einen Liegeplatz zuweisen; where is she berthed? → wo liegt es?, wo hat es angelegt?

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

berth

[bɜːθ]

1. n (on ship, train) → cuccetta (Naut) (place at wharf) → ormeggio
to give sb a wide berth (fig) → tenersi alla larga da qn

2. vi → ormeggiare; (in harbour) → entrare in porto

berth

(bəːθ) noun

1. a sleeping-place in a ship etc.

2. a place in a port etc where a ship can be moored.

verb

to moor (a ship). The ship berthed last night.

berth

→ سَرِيرٌ بِقِطارِ أَوْ سَفِينَة lůžko køje Koje κουκέτα atracadero, litera vuodepaikka junassa tai laivalla couchette brodski ležaj cuccetta 寝台 침대 slaapplaats køye koja leito койка kajplats ที่นอนในเรือหรือรถไฟ kabin giường ngủ trên tàu 卧铺

References in classic literature ?

And I ask you to take certain precautions or let me resign my berth. And that's all."

View in context

As has been said, when Disko thought of cod he thought as a cod; and by some long-tested mixture of instinct and experience, moved the "We're Here" from berth to berth, always with the fish, as a blindfolded chess-player moves on the unseen board.

View in context

There was constant labour for all hands; the sails had to be made and shortened every hour; the strain told on the men's temper; there was a growl of quarrelling all day, long from berth to berth; and as I was never allowed to set my foot on deck, you can picture to yourselves how weary of my life I grew to be, and how impatient for a change.

View in context

However, there is always a cheering influence about the sea; and in my berth that night, rocked by the measured swell of the waves and lulled by the murmur of the distant surf, I soon passed tranquilly out of all consciousness of the dreary experiences of the day and damaging premonitions of the future.

View in context

All dressed and dusty as he is, Jonah throws himself into his berth, and finds the little state-room ceiling almost resting on his forehead.

View in context

FROM that time out, we was with him 'most all the time, and one or t'other of us slept in his upper berth. He said he had been so lonesome, and it was such a comfort to him to have company, and somebody to talk to in his troubles.

View in context

He makes his berth an Aladdin's lamp, and lays him down in it; so that in the pitchiest night the ship's black hull still houses an illumination.

View in context

But my berth was in such a position, that when my own state-room door was open, as well as the sliding door in question(and my own door was ALWAYS open on account of the heat,) I could see into the after-cabin quite distinctly, and just at that portion of it, too, where were situated the state-rooms of Mr.

View in context

I lay in a berth amid the familiar surroundings of the stateroom of a steamer.

View in context

And he began keeping his eyes and ears open, and towards the end of the winter he had discovered a very good berth and had formed a plan of attack upon it, at first from Moscow through aunts, uncles, and friends, and then, when the matter was well advanced, in the spring, he went himself to Petersburg.

View in context

And this noisiness, this exultation at the moment of the ship's departure, make a tremendous contrast to the silent moments of her arrival in a foreign roadstead - the silent moments when, stripped of her sails, she forges ahead to her chosen berth, the loose canvas fluttering softly in the gear above the heads of the men standing still upon her decks, the master gazing intently forward from the break of the poop.

View in context

This was the master of a sailors' boarding-house, a huge mulatto with a heavy fist, who gave the stranded mariner food and shelter till he found him a berth. They lived with him a month, sleeping with a dozen others, Swedes, negroes, Brazilians, on the floor of the two bare rooms in his house which he assigned to his charges; and every day they went with him to the Place Victor Gelu, whither came ships' captains in search of a man.