deck

[ dek ]

noun

1. Nautical.
   1. (on a ship) a floorlike surface occupying one level of the hull, superstructure, or deckhouse and often serving to strengthen the structure of the vessel.
   2. the space between such a surface and the next such surface above:

      Our stateroom was on B deck.

2. an open, unroofed porch or platform extending from a house or other building. Compare sun deck.
3. any open platform suggesting an exposed deck of a ship.
4. a level, tier, or section of a structure, such as of a stadium or vehicle:

   We got excellent seats for the game in the lower deck.

   We took the elevator to the observation deck.

   I like sitting on the upper deck in those double-decker buses.

5. flight deck ( def ).
6. a pack of playing cards.
7. Digital Technology. a set of slides with text, pictures, or diagrams for presentation:

   I’ve put together a slide deck for the new hires, showing what each department does.

   We asked the consultant to put together a branding deck for the business.

8. a flat or nearly flat watertight surface, such as at the top of a mansard roof.
9. Meteorology. Also called cloud deck. a continuous or fragmented distribution of clouds all sharing the same cloud base; cloud layer.
10. Slang. a small packet of a narcotic, especially heroin.
11. Printing. bank ³( def 8 ).
12. Also called rear deck. the cover of a space behind the backseat of an automobile or the space itself.
13. Library Science. a level of book shelving and associated facilities in the stacks of a library, as one of a series of floors or tiers.
14. cutter deck ( def ).
15. a tape deck or cassette deck.

verb (used with object)

1. to clothe or attire (people) or array (rooms, houses, etc.) in something ornamental or decorative (often followed by out ):

   We were all decked out in our Sunday best.

   The bakery window was decked with holly for the holiday season.

   Synonyms: dress, embellish, adorn, bedizen, trim, garnish, bedeck

2. Informal. to knock down; floor:

   The champion decked the challenger in the first round.

3. to furnish with a deck.

adjective

1. Civil Engineering. (of a bridge truss) having a deck or floor upon or above the structure. Compare through ( def 22 ).

deck

/ dɛk /

noun

1. nautical any of various platforms built into a vessel

   a promenade deck

   the poop deck

2. a similar floor or platform, as in a bus
3. 1. the horizontal platform that supports the turntable and pick-up of a record player
   2. See tape deck
4. a pack of playing cards
5. obsolete.
   Also calledpack computing a collection of punched cards relevant to a particular program
6. a raised wooden platform built in a garden to provide a seating area
7. clear the decks informal.
   to prepare for action, as by removing obstacles from a field of activity or combat
8. hit the deck informal.
   1. to fall to the floor or ground, esp in order to avoid injury
   2. to prepare for action
   3. to get out of bed

verb

1. often foll by out to dress or decorate
2. to build a deck on (a vessel)
3. slang.
   to knock (a person) to the floor or ground

Derived Forms

• ˈdecker, noun

Other Words From

• un·decked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of deck¹

First recorded in 1425–75; (for the noun) late Middle English dekke “material for covering,” from Middle Dutch dec “covering, roof”; (for the verb) from Dutch dekken “to cover”; cognate with German decken; thatch

Word History and Origins

Origin of deck¹

C15: from Middle Dutch dec a covering; related to thatch

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. clear the decks,
   1. to prepare for combat, as by removing all unnecessary gear.
   2. to prepare for some activity or work, as by getting rid of hindrances.
2. hit the deck, Slang.
   1. Nautical. to rise from bed.
   2. to fall, drop, or be knocked to the ground or floor.
3. on deck,
   1. Baseball. next at bat; waiting one's turn to bat.
   2. Informal. next in line; coming up; scheduled.
   3. Informal. prepared to act or work; ready.
4. play with / have a full deck, Slang. to be sane, rational, or reasonably intelligent:

   Whoever dreamed up this scheme wasn't playing with a full deck.

5. stack the deck. stack ( def 25 ).

More idioms and phrases containing deck

In addition to the idiom beginning with deck , also see clear the decks ; hit the deck ; on deck .

Example Sentences

Those who do stand up to him have the deck stacked against them in this corporate environment.

From Salon

Catamarans consist of two parallel hulls connected by a single deck, and range from lightweight boats used in Olympic sailing, to huge passenger ferries.

From BBC

Lincoln Riley’s benching of Miller Moss with three games left in a lost season is little more than rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

From Los Angeles Times

There will be political battles worth fighting and political victories to be won if the Democratic Party can reshuffle the demographic deck.

From Slate

Depending on who you ask, that shows just how popular Schiff is — or how high the deck is stacked against Republicans such as Garvey seeking higher office in a state where Democrats hold a nearly 2-to-1 voter advantage.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• adorn
• beautify
• bedeck
• clothe
• decorate
• embellish
• festoon