ship
ship Lexical Profile
ship Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A large seagoing vessel used for transporting passengers or cargo.
"The massive cargo ship crossed the Atlantic Ocean in less than a week."
A spacecraft or aircraft.
"The astronauts meticulously checked the controls before the ship launched into orbit."
• verb
To transport goods or people on a ship, or more generally by any means of conveyance (such as air, rail, or truck).
"The manufacturer will ship the replacement parts to the assembly plant tomorrow morning."
To support or endorse a romantic relationship between two fictional characters or real people (often used in fandom contexts).
"Fans of the television series immediately began to ship the two lead characters after their first interaction."
To embark on a ship or serve as a member of a ship's crew.
"He decided to ship out with the merchant navy as soon as he turned eighteen."
Word Nuance & Usage
As a verb, 'ship' historically referred exclusively to transport by watercraft, but in modern standard English it applies to sending goods by any means of transport. In contemporary internet slang, the verb is also widely used to mean supporting a romantic pairing (derived from 'relationship').
• Rhymes for ship
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'scip' (noun) and 'scipian' (verb), of Proto-Germanic origin, related to Dutch 'schip' and German 'Schiff'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.