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Definition of vessel noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

vessel

noun
 
/ˈvesl/
 
/ˈvesl/
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  1. a tube that carries blood through the body of a person or an animal, or liquid through the parts of a plant
    • to burst/rupture a blood vessel
    see also blood vessel
  2. (formal) a ship or large boat
    • ocean-going vessels
    • a small fishing vessel
    Extra Examples
    • A fire broke out on board the vessel.
    • A rescue boat managed to come alongside the crippled vessel.
    • A salvage team failed to refloat the vessel.
    • He was accused of operating the vessel while drunk.
    • Huge waves swamped the vessel.
    • It was one of the largest vessels afloat.
    • Police boarded and searched the vessel.
    • The Navy seized any vessel caught trading with the enemy.
    • The captain of the boat was accused of ramming a patrol vessel.
    • The damaged vessel sailed on for another 50 miles.
    • The vessel carried a crew of 130.
    • The vessel finally entered port after thirty days at sea.
    • The vessel flooded and began to sink.
    • The vessel was registered in Bermuda.
    • They managed to haul the survivors aboard the vessel.
    • a French vessel bound for Nigeria
    Topics Transport by waterc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • stranded
    • stricken
    • seaworthy
    verb + vessel
    • operate
    • register
    • charter
    vessel + verb
    • be afloat
    • sail
    • be bound for something
    preposition
    • aboard a/​the vessel
    • alongside a/​the vessel
    • on a/​the vessel
    See full entry
  3. (old use or specialist) a container used for holding liquids, such as a bowl, cup, etc.
    • a Bronze Age drinking vessel
    • ancient bronze ritual vessels
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • drinking
    • empty
    • ritual
    verb + vessel
    • fill
    vessel + verb
    • contain something
    See full entry
  4. Word OriginMiddle English: from Anglo-Norman French vessel(e), from late Latin vascellum, diminutive of vas ‘vessel’.
See vessel in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee vessel in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

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