deck

noun \ ˈdek \

|Updated on: 8 Jul 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: deck in a Sentence

Definition of deck

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 : tape deck

— on deck

1 : ready for duty

2 : next in line : next in turn

See deck defined for English-language learners

See deck defined for kids

Examples of deck in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of deck from the Web

The soaring roof of the front deck, which tracks the silhouette of the house, gives shade in the summer, while allowing for the lower winter sun to reach inside.

— j. s. marcus, WSJ, "Where Luxury Meets a Prefab Home," 27 June 2018
On Monday, entering the game as a pinch hitter with a runner on base, Soto blasted a fastball to the back of the upper deck in right field.

— james hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: From ‘I alone can fix it’ to ‘Congress alone can fix it,’ Trump passes the buck on family separation," 19 June 2018
The East Bay bus operator will be the center’s major tenant, running hundreds of buses on 27 transbay lines in and out of the bus deck on the third floor.

— michael cabanatuan, SFChronicle.com, "New on Saturday: Muni buses begin using new Transbay Transit Center," 15 June 2018
Kim was later photographed at the top of the resort’s 57th-floor observation deck.

— madeleine ngo, Vox, "Kim Jong Un went sightseeing in Singapore hours before Tuesday’s historic summit," 11 June 2018
In less than 24 hours, after an intruding goose was chased off the Comerica Park field during a rain delay and then flew into the facing of the second deck, the goose, or at least its plastic doppleganger, has become the Tigers’ unofficial mascot.

— anthony fenech, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Tigers feeling goosed after series win over L.A. Angels," 31 May 2018
Start out the summer with the purchase of a Play Milwaukee deck, and get discounts on tons of great local activities, including rock climbing at Adventure Rock and admission to Betty Brinn Children's Museum.

— amy schwabe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "100 things to do with your kids (from babies to teenagers) in the summer in Milwaukee," 21 May 2018
Those who’d cruised on the Potomac before knew to arrive early — the boat’s best seats were a select collection of wicker chaises and chairs at the rear of the shaded main deck.

— beth spotswood, San Francisco Chronicle, "A cruise back in time on the ‘Floating White House’," 25 Apr. 2018
Pieces of the policy have been leaked previously; in May 2017, The Guardian published hefty portions of an earlier training deck.

— issie lapowsky, WIRED, "Here’s What Facebook Won’t Let You Post," 24 Apr. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of deck

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1509

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

deck Synonyms

Synonyms

balcony, sundeck, terrace;

Related Words

gallery;

lanai, porch, stoop, veranda (or verandah);

Other Building Terms

batten, cistern, hearth, lath, transom, wainscot

deck

verb

Definition of deck

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 holly
—English carol

c : to portray or present with embellishments

[¹deck]

: to furnish with or as if with a deck

[¹deck]

: to knock down forcibly : floor

decked him with one punch

See deck defined for English-language learners

Examples of deck in a Sentence

We spent hours decking the chapel with flowers before the wedding.
He decked him with one punch.

Recent Examples of deck from the Web

The community was ready, with spectators, many decked out in red, white and blue and waving U.S. flags, standing and sitting on lawn chairs and the curb along the parade route.

— kimberly fornek, chicagotribune.com, "Parade, craft fair and turtle races mark Fourth of July fun in Hinsdale," 5 July 2018
Kylia and Wendell Sr—both decked out in sparkly Gucci with a tiger print that pays homage to the Marvel movie Black Panther—hold each other in front of the cameras.

— charlotte wilder, SI.com, "The NBA Bar Mitzvah: Wendell Carter Jr. Becomes a Made Man on Draft Night," 25 June 2018
The arm injury comes less than a week after the 37-year-old singer proudly posed with Ace, decked out in a blue suit and bow tie, for his pre-K graduation.

— stephanie petit, PEOPLE.com, "Jessica Simpson's Son Ace Broke His Arm — But She 'Cried More Than He Did'," 20 June 2018
It was covered in paint, decked out in murals and graffiti doodles and designs.

— marissa j. lang, Washington Post, "‘Make sure more faces won’t be added to this mural’: 16-year-old memorializes slain D.C. teens," 7 June 2018
Guests may hop between Disneyland and California Adventure, each park decked out with all the Halloween trimmings.

— scott craven, USA TODAY, "Ready for fall? Tickets going on sale for Mickey's Halloween Party at Disney," 4 June 2018
The presidential suite is decked out with a king size bed surrounded by silk curtains and a gold-rimmed bathroom with a barber’s chair, Reuters reported.

— janine puhak, Fox News, "Saddam Hussein’s $30 million superyacht is now a hotel for maritime pilots," 23 May 2018
Set in the near future, Slaughterbots imagines swarms of nano-drones decked out with explosives and facial recognition technology, able to kill targets independently of human control.

— billy perrigo, Time, "A Global Arms Race for Killer Robots Is Transforming the Battlefield," 9 Apr. 2018
For those who don’t know, the CTA’s Holiday Train has been spreading cheer throughout Chicago for more than 20 years, a lit-up, decked-out piece of holiday decor that has become a tradition.

— adam lukach, RedEye Chicago, "Ho, ho, ho: The CTA Holiday Train is back," 21 Nov. 2017

Origin and Etymology of deck

Dutch dekken to cover; akin to Old High German decchen

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1513

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

deck Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of 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

DECK Defined for English Language Learners

deck

noun

Definition of deck for English Language Learners

: a flat surface that forms the main outside floor of a boat or ship
: one of the levels on a bus, ship, etc.
: one of the seating levels in a sports stadium

deck

verb

Definition of deck for English Language Learners

: to decorate (something)
: to knock (someone) down by hitting very hard

DECK Defined for Kids

deck

noun \ ˈdek \

Definition of deck for Students

1 : a floor that goes from one side of a ship to the other

2 : something like the deck of a ship

the deck of a house

3 : a pack of playing cards

deck

verb

Definition of deck for Students

decked; decking

: to dress or decorate especially in a fancy way

The house is decked out for the holidays.

Learn More about deck

See words that rhyme with deck Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for deck Spanish Central: Translation of deck Nglish: Translation of deck for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of deck for Arabic speakers

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deck

Definition of deck

Examples of deck in a Sentence

Recent Examples of deck from the Web

Origin and Etymology of deck

deck Synonyms

Synonyms

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Other Building Terms

deck

Definition of deck

Examples of deck in a Sentence

Recent Examples of deck from the Web

Origin and Etymology of deck

deck Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Synonym Discussion of deck

Phrases Related to DECK

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DECK Defined for English Language Learners

deck

Definition of deck for English Language Learners

deck

Definition of deck for English Language Learners

DECK Defined for Kids

deck

Definition of deck for Students

deck

Definition of deck for Students

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