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Definition of vessel

vessel

/ˈvɛs.əl/
ves · sel
Plural:vessels
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vessel Lexical Profile

vessel Game Scores & Validity

• 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

• Nearby Words

vespa
vespers
vesprem
vessel
vest
vested
vestia

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 Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/vessel
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