Dock — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈdäk/

Meaning & Definition of Dock

Dock (noun)

  1. a place (such as a wharf or platform) for the loading or unloading of materials
  2. a usually wooden pier used as a landing place or moorage for boats
  3. a device in which a smartphone, digital camera, etc., is placed for charging, accessing a power supply, or connecting to another electronic device
  4. the part of an animal's tail left after it has been shortened
  5. the solid part of an animal's tail as distinguished from the hair
  6. the place in a criminal court where a prisoner stands or sits during trial
  7. any of a genus (Rumex) of coarse weedy plants of the buckwheat family having long taproots and sometimes used as potherbs
  8. any of several usually broad-leaved weedy plants (as of the genus Silphium)

Dock (verb)

  1. to haul or guide into or alongside a dock
  2. to connect an electronic device (such as a computer or a digital camera) to another device
  3. to join (two spacecraft) mechanically while in space
  4. to subject to a deduction
  5. to penalize by depriving of a benefit ordinarily due; especially, to fine by a deduction of wages
  6. to take away a part of, abridge

Dock (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a structure used by boats and ships for taking on or landing cargo and passengers

    "the boat remained tied up at the dock for a week, waiting for the weather to clear"

    similar: float, jetty, landing, levee, pier, quai, quay, wharf
    related: berth, mooring, slip, embarcadero (West), dockyard, marina, quayage, shipyard, wharfage

Dock (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make less in extent or duration

    "the editorial was docked by about a hundred words to make it fit on the page"

    similar: abbreviate, abridge, curtail, cut back, elide, shorten, syncopate, truncate
    related: abstract, digest, encapsulate, epitomize, recapitulate, summarize, sum up, abate, compress, constrict, contract, cut, cut down, pare, prune, trim, decrease, de-escalate, deflate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, moderate, modify, reduce, retrench, shrink, slash, subtract (from), taper
    opposite: elongate, extend, lengthen, prolong, protract
    near: enlarge, expand, supplement, add, aggrandize, amplify, augment, balloon, boost, dilate, escalate, heighten, increase, maximize, pump up, raise, blow up, distend, inflate, swell

  2. to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument

    "the boxer's tail was docked soon after birth"

    similar: bob, clip, crop, cut, cut back, lop (off), nip, pare, poll, prune, shave, shear, snip, trim
    related: skive, whittle, manicure, mow, pinch, stump, curtail, shorten
    near: elongate, extend, lengthen

  3. to stop at or near a place along the shore

    "the cruise ship docked at the first port of call early the next morning"

    similar: anchor, land, make port
    related: berth, moor, tie up, beach, ground, harbor, arrive, reach, show up, turn up, debark, disembark
    near: embark, launch, sail

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Dock

The most common words with a similar meaning to Dock:

float, jetty, landing, levee, pier, quai, quay, wharf, abbreviate, abridge, curtail, cut back, elide, shorten, syncopate, truncate, bob, clip, crop, cut, lop (off), nip, pare, poll, prune, shave, shear, snip, trim, anchor, land, make port

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Dock

Words with the opposite meaning of Dock:

elongate, extend, lengthen, prolong, protract

Related Words for Dock

berth, mooring, slip, embarcadero, dockyard, marina, quayage, shipyard, wharfage, abstract, digest, encapsulate, epitomize, recapitulate, summarize, sum up, abate, compress, constrict, contract, cut down, decrease, de-escalate, deflate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, moderate

Near Antonyms of Dock

enlarge, expand, supplement, add, aggrandize, amplify, augment, balloon, boost, dilate, escalate, heighten, increase, maximize, pump up, raise, blow up, distend, inflate, swell, embark, launch, sail

Word Forms of Dock

Inflections: docks, docked, docking

Origin & Etymology of Dock

Middle English dokke, probably from Middle Dutch docke

First known use: 15th century

Words & Phrases Containing Dock

dry-dock, dry dock, floating dock, graving dock

Frequently Asked Questions about Dock

What does "Dock" mean?

"Dock" means a place (such as a wharf or platform) for the loading or unloading of materials. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a place (such as a wharf or platform) for the loading or unloading of materials. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Dock"?

Other words for "Dock" include float, jetty, landing, levee, pier, quai, quay and wharf. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Dock" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Dock"?

There are 86 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Dock". Common alternatives include float, jetty, landing, levee, pier, quai, quay, wharf, abbreviate and abridge.

What is the opposite of "Dock"?

Antonyms of "Dock" include elongate, extend, lengthen, prolong and protract. Near antonyms include enlarge, expand, supplement and add.

How do you use "Dock" in a sentence?

Examples of "Dock" in a sentence: "the boat remained tied up at the dock for a week, waiting for the weather to clear"; "the editorial was docked by about a hundred words to make it fit on the page"; "the boxer's tail was docked soon after birth".

Is "Dock" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Dock" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Dock"?

"Dock" is pronounced /ˈdäk/.

What is the origin of the word "Dock"?

"Dock" comes from Middle English dokke, probably from Middle Dutch docke. First known use: 15th century.