/ bəʊt; NAmE boʊt/ noun
1.
a vehicle (smaller than a ship) that travels on water, moved by oars , sails or a motor :
a rowing / sailing boat
a fishing boat
You can take a boat trip along the coast.
—see also canal boat , lifeboat , motorboat , powerboat , speedboat , steamboat
2.
any ship :
'How are you going to France?' 'We're going by boat (= by ferry ) .'
—see also gravy boat , sauce boat
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IDIOMS
- be in the same boat
—more at burn verb , float verb , miss verb , push verb , rock verb
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English bāt , of Germanic origin.