Library / English Dictionary

BERTH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A job in an organization

Example:

he occupied a post in the treasury

Synonyms:

berth; billet; office; place; position; post; situation; spot

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("berth" is a kind of...):

business; job; line; line of work; occupation (the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "berth"):

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)

cardinalate; 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)

deanery; deanship (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)

pastorate; pastorship (the position of pastor)

peasanthood (the state of being a peasant)

plum (a highly desirable position or assignment)

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)

premiership (the office of premier)

presidency; presidentship (the office and function of president)

primateship (the office of primate)

principalship (the post of principal)

priorship (the office of prior)

proconsulate; proconsulship (the position of proconsul)

proctorship (the position of proctor)

chair; professorship (the position of professor)

protectorship (the position of protector)

public office (a position concerning the people as a whole)

rabbinate (the office or function of a rabbi)

receivership (the office of a receiver)

rectorate; rectorship (the office or station of a rector)

regency (the office of a regent)

residency (the position of physician who is receiving special training in a hospital (usually after completing an internship))

rulership (the position of ruler)

sainthood (the status and dignity of a saint)

secretaryship (the position of secretary)

feudal lordship; seigneury; seigniory (the position and authority of a feudal lord)

senatorship (the office of senator)

sinecure (an office that involves minimal duties)

solicitorship (the position of solicitor)

speakership (the position of Speaker)

stewardship (the position of steward)

studentship (the position of student)

teachership (the position of teacher)

thaneship (the position of thane)

throne (the position and power of an exalted person (a sovereign or bishop) who is entitled to sit in a chair of state on ceremonial occasions)

treasurership (the position of treasurer)

tribuneship (the position of tribune)

trusteeship (the position of trustee)

vice-presidency (the office and function of a vice president)

viceroyship (the position of viceroy)

viziership (the position of vizier)

wardenship (the position of warden)

wardership (the position of warder)

womanhood (the status of a woman)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A bed on a ship or train; usually in tiers

Synonyms:

berth; built in bed; bunk

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("berth" is a kind of...):

bed (a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "berth"):

lower; lower berth (the lower of two berths)

upper; upper berth (the higher of two berths)

Derivation:

berth (provide with a berth)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A place where a craft can be made fast

Synonyms:

berth; moorage; mooring; slip

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Hypernyms ("berth" is a kind of...):

anchorage; anchorage ground (place for vessels to anchor)

Derivation:

berth (come into or dock at a wharf)

berth (secure in or as if in a berth or dock)

berth (provide with a berth)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Come into or dock at a wharf

Example:

the big ship wharfed in the evening

Synonyms:

berth; moor; wharf

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "berth" is one way to...):

dock (come into dock)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

berth (a place where a craft can be made fast)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Secure in or as if in a berth or dock

Example:

tie up the boat

Synonyms:

berth; moor; tie up

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "berth" is one way to...):

fasten; fix; secure (cause to be firmly attached)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "berth"):

wharf (moor at a wharf)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

berth (a place where a craft can be made fast)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Provide with a berth

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "berth" is one way to...):

furnish; provide; render; supply (give something useful or necessary to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

berth (a bed on a ship or train; usually in tiers)

berth (a place where a craft can be made fast)

Credits

 Context examples: 

He sat down; for half-an-hour we never spoke; neither he to me nor I to him: that interval past, he recommenced—Jane, I go in six weeks; I have taken my berth in an East Indiaman which sails on the 20th of June.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

It had been originally meant that the captain, Mr. Arrow, Hunter, Joyce, the doctor, and the squire were to occupy these six berths.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

“It is my wish that he should join the Service, if a berth can be found for him; for we have all been King’s officers for many generations.”

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“And bring out the cigars and the whisky you’ll find in my berth.”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

On descending to his berth, I found him seated upon a chest with his head sunk upon his hands, rocking himself to and fro.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Among the great beams, bulks, and ringbolts of the ship, and the emigrant-berths, and chests, and bundles, and barrels, and heaps of miscellaneous baggage—“lighted up, here and there, by dangling lanterns; and elsewhere by the yellow daylight straying down a windsail or a hatchway—were crowded groups of people, making new friendships, taking leave of one another, talking, laughing, crying, eating and drinking; some, already settled down into the possession of their few feet of space, with their little households arranged, and tiny children established on stools, or in dwarf elbow-chairs; others, despairing of a resting-place, and wandering disconsolately.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He was himself red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; so, when he died, it was found that he had left his enormous fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of that colour.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Why not give them the berths here beside the cabin?

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Well, there’s time enough yet, said he, for they are more inclined to empty berths than to fill them, now that peace has come.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Get your traps aft into the mate’s berth.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)