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Definition of vessel
vessel
/ˈvɛs.əl/
ves · sel
Plural:vessels
vessel Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
4
Tier
2
Usage
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• noun
1
A ship or large boat designed for navigation on water.
Example
"The enormous cargo vessel navigated slowly through the narrow shipping canal."
2
A hollow container, especially one used for holding liquids, such as a bowl, pitcher, or vase.
Example
"The archaeologist carefully brushed the dirt from an ancient clay vessel."
3
A tubular structure that conveys fluid within a living organism, such as blood in animals or sap in plants.
Example
"High blood pressure can place dangerous stress on a patient's cardiovascular vessels."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for vessel• Rhymes for vessel
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'vessel', from Old French 'vessel', derived from Late Latin 'vascellum' (a small vase or urn), which is a diminutive of the Latin 'vas' meaning 'container' or 'vessel'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Vessel. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/vessel