ship
/ʃɪp/A large boat that travels on seas or oceans. Ships carry people, goods, or both.
- The ship crossed the Atlantic overnight.
- We saw a ship in the harbour.
- 1.
To send something to another place, especially by post, delivery, or transport. It can also mean to send goods for sale.
- We will ship your order tomorrow.
- The company ships products worldwide.
- 2.
To put two people or characters together as a romantic pair, often as a joke or fan idea. This is informal.
- Fans ship those two characters.
- My friends ship us all the time.
Adinary Nuance
Ship is broader than boat. A ship is usually larger and used for sea travel, while boat can mean many smaller watercraft. As a verb, ship often means sending goods, which is different from mail or post for letters and messages. In modern slang, ship also means supporting a romance pairing, which is unrelated to the transport meaning.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- tàu biển
- Spanish
- barco
- Chinese
- 轮船
- Japanese
- 船
- Korean
- 배
Etymology
Old English had the word scip, from Proto-Germanic. The modern spelling and pronunciation have stayed close to the older form for a very long time.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between ship and boat?
- A ship is usually larger and can travel long distances on the sea. A boat is smaller.
- Is ship a formal word in business writing?
- Yes, the verb **ship** is common in business and online shopping. It is neutral and widely used.
- What does ship mean in social media slang?
- It means to support two people as a romantic couple, real or fictional.