Boat Definition, Examples, and Usage

Meaning 1：a small water vessel (Boat)

Boat 🔊

/boʊt/

A small vehicle that moves on water, used for carrying people or things.

Boat floating on calm lake under sunny sky with people inside

a small water vessel 🔊

➕

/ə smɔːl ˈwɔːtər ˈvɛsəl/

A boat is a small vessel designed to travel on water, typically smaller than a ship, and used for transportation, leisure, or fishing.

📁 Category：Transportation & Travel 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'bāt', related to 'bite' - boat 'bites' the water.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a boat bobbing on water: 'bob' + 'oat' - it floats on oats!

📖 Example

We took a boat across the river to reach the other side. 🔊 We took a boat across the river to reach the other side.

🔗 Collocations

row a boat – to propel a boat using oars

sail a boat – to navigate a boat using sails

motor boat – a boat powered by an engine

🔄 Synonyms

vessel (n.) – a ship or large boat, often used in formal contexts

craft (n.) – a boat or ship, especially a small one

watercraft (n.) – any vehicle that travels on or through water

🌱 Derivatives

boating (n.) – the activity of using a boat for pleasure or travel

boatman (n.) – a person who operates or works on a boat

boatyard (n.) – a place where boats are built, repaired, or stored

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'boat' comes from Old English 'bāt', of Germanic origin. Boats were essential for travel and trade since ancient times, making the word one of the oldest in the language.