I. ˈdek noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably modification of (assumed) Low German verdeck (whence German verdeck ), from (assumed) Middle Low German vordeck (translation of Old Italian coperta or Middle French couverte, literally, cover), Middle Low German vordecken to cover, from Middle Low German vor- (akin to Old High German fir-, fur- for-) + decken to cover (akin to Old High German decken to cover) — more at thatch
1. : a platform in a ship extending within the hull from side to side and from stem to stern (as the main deck) or extending within or above the hull part of the width or the length (as the bridge deck) and serving as an important element in a ship's structural strength and forming the floor for its compartments
2. : something resembling the deck of a ship: as
a. : a surface regarded as a floor to stand or move upon — used especially in the United States Navy
the third deck of the barracks
flying about 50 feet above the deck
b. : a story of a building
c. : a floor of a many-tiered stack in a library
d. : the roadway of a bridge
e. : the floor of a boxing ring
f. : a flat floored roofless area adjoining a house or built as a structural part of it and usually being open on one or more sides
g. : the top of a mansard roof or curb roof when made nearly flat
h.
(1) : the roof of a railroad passenger car
(2) : a compartment for livestock in a freight car
i.
(1) : the lid of the compartment at the rear of the body of an automobile
(2) : the compartment covered by such a deck
j. : any one of the platforms of a large printing press
3. : a group or packet usually containing a specified number or amount: as
a. : pack 3c
b. : a group or file of tabulation cards usually punched
c. : a package of cigarettes
d. : a packet containing drugs
e. : a load of market lambs that fills a single-decked railroad shipping car
4. : duty assignment of officer of the deck
the lieutenant had the deck that evening
5.
a. : a platform for logs
b. : a pile of logs
6. : a horizontal division of a newspaper or periodical headline
7. : feedboard
8. : the length of the short triangular deck piece in the bow of a racing shell
led by a deck to a half-length until there were three quarters of a mile to go — New York Times
•
- below decks
- between decks
- on deck
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: in senses 3, 4, and 5, from deck (I) ; in senses 1 and 2, from Dutch dekken to cover; akin to Old High German decken to cover — more at thatch
1. obsolete : cover , array
deck with clouds the uncolored sky — John Milton
2.
a. : dress , apparel
the Chinese have decked themselves for festivity in red — James Cameron
b. : to clothe with more than ordinary elegance : adorn , embellish — often used with out
decked out with festooned ribbons — Donn Byrne
an airplane decked out with an ice-blue interior — Saturday Review
3. : to furnish (as a ship) with or as if with a deck — often used with in or over
4. : to load or pile up on a deck
deck up logs
5. : floor , flatten
decked every opponent he has fought — Lewis Eskin
Synonyms: see adorn
III. noun, adjective (or adverb)
1. : tape deck herein
2. : a layer of clouds
•
- on the deck