berth

[ burth ]

noun

1. a shelflike sleeping space, as on a ship, airplane, or railroad car.
2. Nautical.
   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.
3. a job; position.
4. a place, listing, or role:

   She clinched a berth on our tennis team.

   Synonyms: appointment, niche, post, position, slot, spot

verb (used with object)

1. Nautical.
   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.

verb (used without object)

1. Nautical. to come to a dock, anchorage, or moorage.

berth

/ bɜːθ /

noun

1. a bed or bunk in a vessel or train, usually narrow and fixed to a wall
2. nautical a place assigned to a ship at a mooring
3. nautical sufficient distance from the shore or from other ships or objects for a ship to manoeuvre
4. give a wide berth to
   to keep clear of; avoid
5. nautical accommodation on a ship
6. informal.
   a job, esp as a member of a ship's crew

verb

1. tr nautical to assign a berth to (a vessel)
2. nautical to dock (a vessel)
3. tr to provide with a sleeping place, as on a vessel or train
4. intr nautical to pick up a mooring in an anchorage

Other Words From

• un·berth verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of berth¹

First recorded in 1615–25; probably equivalent to bear ¹ + -th ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of berth¹

C17: probably from bear ¹+ -th ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. give a wide berth to, to shun; remain discreetly away from:

   Since his riding accident, he has given a wide berth to skittish horses.

More idioms and phrases containing berth

see give a wide berth to .

Example Sentences

The football team has qualified for bowl games in three consecutive seasons and is surging toward a possible fourth consecutive berth under new coach DeShaun Foster, the biggest hire of Jarmond’s four and a half years on the job.

From Los Angeles Times

If that sequence comes to pass, Scotland would finish in a improbable second place in the section and seal both a pot-one berth for the World Cup qualifying draw on December 13 and a place in March’s Nations League quarter-finals.

From BBC

UCLA’s quest to scratch and claw its way to a bowl berth after a slow start to the season continues.

From Los Angeles Times

A plan to charter an extra large vessel, MV Ben-My-Chree, from the Isle of Man Steam Package Company was dashed last week when the ship was unable to berth safely at Brodick harbour on Arran.

From BBC

The Chargers, who play at home against the 2-6 Tennessee Titans on Sunday, will have consecutive prime-time games this month and are firmly in the hunt for an AFC wild-card berth.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dock
• port
• wharf