BERTH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does berth mean? 

• BERTH (noun)
  The noun BERTH has 3 senses:

1. a job in an organization

2. a place where a craft can be made fast

3. a bed on a ship or train; usually in tiers

  Familiarity information: BERTH used as a noun is uncommon.

• BERTH (verb)
  The verb BERTH has 3 senses:

1. provide with a berth

2. secure in or as if in a berth or dock

3. come into or dock at a wharf

  Familiarity information: BERTH used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BERTH (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A job in an organization

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

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

Context example:

he occupied a post in the treasury

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 place where a craft can be made fast

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Synonyms:

berth; moorage; mooring; slip

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)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A bed on a ship or train; usually in tiers

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

berth; built in bed; bunk

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)

• BERTH (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Secure in or as if in a berth or dock

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

berth; moor; tie up

Context example:

tie up the boat

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:

Come into or dock at a wharf

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

berth; moor; wharf

Context example:

the big ship wharfed in the evening

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)

 Context examples 

And I ask you to take certain precautions or let me resign my berth.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Lord Nelson has promised me that he would find a berth for you, and to-morrow we shall seek him out and remind him of it.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Molony also claims the ship backed into its Southampton berth in a bid to hide fire damage.

(UK documentary claims fire weakened RMS Titanic, Wikinews)

I had a hard enough fight to get this berth, and I am very glad to have it.

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

It's the best berth at Spithead.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

The dog's worked hard, and maybe he's earned a soft berth an' has got a right to choose. Anyway, we'll leave it up to him. Whatever he says, goes.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

My first mate’s berth on the sealing grounds stood me in good stead, and I cleared the inner cove and laid a long tack along the shore of the outer cove.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Naturally, we was both of us inclined to give such a subject a wide berth.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I am sorry, Lancaster, but the berth is full.

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

As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth.

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