berth: Meaning and Definition of

berth

Pronunciation: (bûrth), [key]
— n.
  1. a shelflike sleeping space, as on a ship, airplane, or railroad car.
    1. the space allotted to a vessel at anchor or at a wharf.
    2. the distance maintained between a vessel and the shore, another vessel, or any object.
    3. the position or rank of a ship's officer.
    4. the cabin of a ship's officer.
  2. a job; position.
  3. a place, listing, or role: She clinched a berth on our tennis team.
  4. to shun; remain discreetly away from: Since his riding accident, he has given a wide berth to skittish horses.
—v.t.
  1. The captain had to berth the ship without the aid of tugboats.
    1. to allot to (a vessel) a certain space at which to anchor or tie up.
    2. to bring to or install in a berth, anchorage, or moorage:The captain had to berth the ship without the aid of tugboats.
  2. to provide with a sleeping space, as on a train.
—v.i.
  1. to come to a dock, anchorage, or moorage.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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