deck

1 of 2

noun

plural decks
1
: a platform in a ship serving usually as a structural element and forming the floor for its compartments
2
: something resembling the deck of a ship: such as
a
: a story or tier of a building (such as a sports stadium)
the upper deck
b
: the roadway of a bridge
c
: a flat floored roofless area adjoining a house
d
: the lid of the compartment at the rear of the body of an automobile
also : the compartment
e
: a layer of clouds
3
a
: a pack of playing cards
b
: a packet of narcotics
4
5
: a collection of visual or photographic slides presented usually one after another as a slideshow
Pompliano was on the job for a mere three weeks in 2015, but in that time he prepared a PowerPoint deck laying out what he believed were the key inaccuracies in the company's numbers.Gene Maddaus
Accompanying a talk with images is standard professional practice, but a poorly organized or dense slide deck can spoil a presentation.Jeff Link

deck

2 of 2

verb

decked; decking; decks

transitive verb

1
obsolete : cover
2
a
: to clothe in a striking or elegant manner : array
decked out in furs
b
: decorate
deck the halls with boughs of hollyEnglish carol
c
: to portray or present with embellishments
3
[deck entry 1] : to furnish with or as if with a deck
4
[deck entry 1] : to knock down forcibly : floor
decked him with one punch
Phrases
on deck
1
: ready for duty
2
: next in line : next in turn
Choose the Right Synonym for deck

adorn, decorate, ornament, embellish, beautify, deck, garnish mean to enhance the appearance of something by adding something unessential.

adorn implies an enhancing by something beautiful in itself.

a diamond necklace adorned her neck

decorate suggests relieving plainness or monotony by adding beauty of color or design.

decorate a birthday cake

ornament and embellish imply the adding of something extraneous, ornament stressing the heightening or setting off of the original

a white house ornamented with green shutters

, embellish often stressing the adding of superfluous or adventitious ornament.

embellish a page with floral borders

beautify adds to embellish a suggestion of counterbalancing plainness or ugliness.

will beautify the grounds with flower beds

deck implies the addition of something that contributes to gaiety, splendor, or showiness.

a house all decked out for Christmas

garnish suggests decorating with a small final touch and is used especially in referring to the serving of food.

an entrée garnished with parsley

Examples of deck in a Sentence

Noun We stood on the deck and watched dolphins swim near the ship. A number of passengers had come on deck. a seat on the streetcar's top deck a cabin on B deck We sat in the lower deck. We ate out on the deck. Verb We spent hours decking the chapel with flowers before the wedding. He decked him with one punch.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Between the two pavilions is a meditation deck that floats above a reflecting pool. Mark David, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2024 White likes to stay at the boutique Newpark Resort, where rooms offer fireplaces and private decks with hot tubs. Nina Kokotas Hahn, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Mar. 2024 The cloud deck was about 20,000 to 25,000 feet high, according to airport observations, an ideal altitude for strong colors. Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 The reason Single Deck Blackjack has the best payout rate is that there’s just a single deck. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 When not surveying the natural wonders of the Galapagos, guests can enjoy indoor and outdoor dining areas and a sun deck with a palatial hot tub. Passport By Forbeslife, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Architecture enthusiasts may even notice the nod to an ocean liner, with curved lines and balconies similar to that of a ship’s deck. Chris Dong, Travel + Leisure, 29 Feb. 2024 From the main living space, sliding glass doors open to a large stone deck and an outdoor dining table facing the river. Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 29 Feb. 2024 The headlight is nice and bright, the 10-inch self-sealing tubeless tires smooth out ridges in the road, front dual suspension also makes bumps less noticeable, the deck to stand on is large, the dashboard is colorful, and of course the unit easily folds up for storage. Scott Kramer, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
Verb
Up there is a big sunroom, plus a 2,000-square-foot, open-air rooftop deck with stunning views for miles up and down the scenic Malibu coastline. James McClain, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2024 The tube—decked with a golden pair of lips—provides a fittingly grand presentation for the lightweight, hydrating formulation that dries down with a soft-focus effect. Jenny Berg, Vogue, 8 Mar. 2024 If pitching out your dark brown Chippendale dining set is a little too radical for you, consider embracing your new contemporary personality on your patio or deck with contemporary furniture such as the Protech side chairs and an Arden dining table. Vicki Payne, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 The bathrooms are decked with in mosaic tiles with marble sinks on rosewood, glass, and steel vanities. Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 26 Feb. 2024 After a short break, Miliyah Kato appeared on stage decked in a flowing black tiered tulle dress for the second half of the concert. Billboard Japan, Billboard, 21 Feb. 2024 The streets were decked with saffron flags, marigold garlands, and signs depicting Lord Ram and Modi. TIME, 24 Jan. 2024 In his performance, Burna Boy brought out energetic dancers and a backing band decked all out in green, a seeming nod to the Nigerian flag. Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 5 Feb. 2024 The piece was designed by jeweler Lorraine Schwartz, who is known for decking celebrities in jewels with everyone from Pharrell to Beyoncé as clients. Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 4 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deck.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English dekke covering of a ship, from Middle Dutch *dec covering, probably from Middle Low German vordeck, from vordecken to cover, from vor- for- + decken to cover; akin to Old High German decchen to cover — more at thatch

Verb

Dutch dekken to cover; akin to Old High German decchen

First Known Use

Noun

1509, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1513, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deck was in 1509

Dictionary Entries Near deck

Cite this Entry

“Deck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deck. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

deck

1 of 2 noun
1
: a platform extending from side to side in a ship and forming a floor
2
a
: a flat structure resembling the deck of a ship
b
: a flat floored roofless area adjoining a house
3
: a pack of playing cards

deck

2 of 2 verb
1
a
: to clothe in a fine and impressive way : array
decked out in a new suit
2
: to provide (as a ship) with a deck

More from Merriam-Webster on deck

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