/ ˈəʊʃn; NAmE ˈoʊʃn/ noun
1.
(usually the ocean ) [ sing. ] ( especially NAmE ) the mass of salt water that covers most of the earth's surface :
the depths of the ocean
People were swimming in the ocean despite the hurricane warning.
The plane hit the ocean several miles offshore.
Our beach house is just a couple of miles from the ocean.
an ocean liner
Ocean levels are rising.
2.
(usually Ocean ) [ C ] one of the five large areas that the ocean is divided into :
the Antarctic / Arctic / Atlantic / Indian / Pacific Ocean
➡ note at sea
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IDIOMS
- an ocean of sth
—more at drop noun
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French occean , via Latin from Greek ōkeanos great stream encircling the earth's disc. “The ocean” originally referred to the whole body of water thought to encompass the earth's single land mass.