aircraft carrier

noun

|Updated on: 13 Jul 2018

Definition of aircraft carrier

: a warship with a flight deck on which aircraft can be launched and landed

See aircraft carrier defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of aircraft carrier from the Web

Buy Photo Patrick Corcoran was asleep in his bunk about 3:15 a.m. when the USS Frank E. Evans made a wide right turn into the Australian aircraft carrier Melbourne on June 3, 1969.

— tylisa c. johnson, Philly.com, "74 sailors died during a Vietnam warfare exercise, but their names aren't on D.C. memorial," 9 July 2018
The Warriors, whose new-age offensive style was thought to have rendered the big center obsolete, have signed the biggest aircraft carrier in the fleet and intend to use him to take the game to a higher level.

— scott ostler, SFChronicle.com, "Light years? Warriors blast into new realm with DeMarcus Cousins," 2 July 2018
Destroyers have approximately 330 sailors per ship, aircraft carriers hold as many as 6,000, and the frigates hold approximately 205.

— matt sussis and yingjie gu, USA TODAY, "Navy’s planned shipbuilding spree overlooks looming sailor shortage," 29 June 2018
At the USS Lexington: Museum on the Bay (or just the Lex), see authentic WWII aircraft on the ship’s flight deck and imagine life as a sailor on the aircraft carrier with 11 decks and battle guns used during the ship’s 40-year naval career.

— San Antonio Express-News, "Your best bets for attractions all around Texas," 12 June 2018
Then there was a warm exchange on an aircraft carrier in New York.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Trump appeals to delay ex-apprentice candidate Zervos’s suit," 22 May 2018
And in mid-April, China conducted its largest-ever naval parade in the South China Sea, which came after the aircraft carrier Liaoning led a flotilla of 48 naval vessels plus 76 fighter jets in two-days of combat drills.

— bethlehem feleke, CNN, "China tests bombers on South China Sea island," 20 May 2018
He was stationed on the U.S.S. Mindoro aircraft carrier.

— courant.com, "William Winfred Lindsay," 4 May 2018
Of course, unfortunately, it is associated with Bush on the aircraft carrier.

— Fox News, "Mixed media verdict on Syria bombing," 16 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'aircraft carrier.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.