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Berths
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berth

  [burth]
Use berths 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.
Cite This Source Link To berths
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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