I. ˈbərth, ˈbə̄th, ˈbəith noun
( plural berths -ths sometimes -thz)
Etymology: probably from bear (IV) , after English birth: bear (IV)
1.
a. : convenient sea room : sufficient or safe distance for maneuvering maintained between a ship and another object
keep a clear berth of the shoals
give the lighthouse a wide berth
b. : distance preserved for the sake of safety — used especially with wide
an orderly place to which outlaws and criminals gave wide berth — S.H.Holbrook
2.
a. : the place where a ship lies when at anchor or at a wharf
an ocean liner riding quietly at her berth
b. : the place in a shipyard where a ship is built : shipway
c. : a space designed to accommodate an automotive vehicle (as a truck or train or plane) at rest for a specific purpose (as loading)
plenty of room for 20 parking berths
3.
a. archaic : a room in which a number of the officers of a ship or the ship's company mess and reside
b. : a place to sit or sleep : accommodation
vainly looked for a berth in the crowded bus
helped him find a berth during his visit to town
4.
a. : a billet on board ship
waiting for a berth as a ship's surgeon — Bernard Keelan
b. : job , position , situation , post
dissatisfied with his prewar truck driving berth — Newsweek
the sales department is an excellent berth for a young man — Jo Ranson & R.M.Pack
high-school seniors having difficulty in locating berths in leading colleges
specifically : a playing position on a team
won a regular first-string berth
the left-field berth
5. : a sleeping accommodation (as on a ship, train, or plane) that consists typically of a shelf or frame fixed to a wall or of unfolded facing seats and is provided with a mattress and bedding
Synonyms: see room , wharf
•
- on the berth
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1.
a. : to bring to anchorage : moor : maneuver to a suitable place for anchoring or docking
tugs when berthing a ship sometimes work by pushing with their bow against the ship's side — D.W.Pye
b. : to put or maneuver (as a bus) into a berth
berthing the plane in the hangar
berthed the car in the space reserved for it
2. : to allot a berth to : furnish with a berth
a cabin with 16 bunks in it to berth the crew
intransitive verb
1. : to come into a position suitable for mooring : arrive at a berth : stop at a berth
the ship glided in and effortlessly berthed
2. : to have a berth or a lodging place
berthed beside him — Frederick O'Brien