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Berth

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berth

  [burth]
Use Berth in a Sentence
–noun
1. a shelflike sleeping space, as on a ship, airplane, or railroad car.
2. Nautical.
a. the space allotted to a vessel at anchor or at a wharf.
b. the distance maintained between a vessel and the shore, another vessel, or any object.
c. the position or rank of a ship's officer.
d. the cabin of a ship's officer.
3. a job; position.
4. a place, listing, or role: She clinched a berth on our tennis team.
–verb (used with object)
5. Nautical.
a. to allot to (a vessel) a certain space at which to anchor or tie up.
b. to bring to or install in a berth, anchorage, or moorage: The captain had to berth the ship without the aid of tugboats.
6. to provide with a sleeping space, as on a train.
–verb (used without object)
7. Nautical. to come to a dock, anchorage, or moorage.
—Idiom
8. give a wide berth to, to shun; remain discreetly away from: Since his riding accident, he has given a wide berth to skittish horses.
Origin:
1615–25; prob. bear 1 + -th 1

Synonyms:
4. spot, slot, position, post, niche, appointment.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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berth   (bûrth)   
n.  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    2. 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 ship) to a berth.

  2. To provide with a berth.

v.   intr.
To come to a berth; dock.

[Middle English birth; perhaps akin to beren, to bear; see bear1.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

berth 
1622, "convenient sea room" (both for ships and sailors), of uncertain origin, probably related to bear (v). Original sense is preserved in phrase to give (something or someone) wide berth. Meaning "place on a ship to stow chests, room for sailors" is from 1706; extended to non-nautical situations 1778.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

berth

see give a wide berth to.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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