deck

noun

\ ˈdek

plural decks

Definition of deck

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

3a : a pack of playing cards

b : a packet of narcotics

4 : tape deck

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

on deck

1 : ready for duty

2 : next in line : next in turn

deck

verb

decked; decking; decks

Definition of deck (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 obsolete : cover

2a : 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

3 [ ¹deck ] : to furnish with or as if with a deck

4 [ ¹deck ] : to knock down forcibly : floor decked him with one punch

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about deck

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Choose the Right Synonym for deck

Verb

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

The Mackinac Bridge is five miles long but there is only 155 feet maximum clearance between the bottom of the deck and the waters of the Great Lakes (Lake Huron and Lake Michigan) below. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Sixty Years Ago, a Pilot Flew a B-47 Nuclear Bomber Under Michigan's Mackinac Bridge," 30 Apr. 2019 Other amenities of the 2,092 house include a commanding brick fireplace in the living room, a large back deck, and a .5-acre lot filled with greenery and large trees. — Megan Barber, Curbed, "A-frame midcentury home with gorgeous atrium asks $700K," 14 Dec. 2018 Meanwhile, the iconic Stein Eriksen Lodge just unveiled a new pool, outdoor deck, and slopeside coffee shop. — Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, "If You're Skiing the Rockies This Winter, Read This First," 4 Dec. 2018 Steam rose from two smokestacks, the crew flitted among three decks, and a horn announced that departure was imminent. — Erik Maza, Town & Country, "Chanel Sets Sail for New York City," 15 Nov. 2018 On one hand, the GTX Bamboo board has great build quality with huge trucks, wheels, a flexible bamboo deck, and a total weight of 19.4 pounds. — Stefan Etienne, The Verge, "Evolve Bamboo GTX electric skateboard review: too fast, too furious," 31 Oct. 2018 At first these were moveable spoilers, but in 1966 the Chaparral 2E showed up with a honking great wing mounted on pylons high above the rear deck, and the racing world was changed forever. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, "How a day driving high-downforce cars at VIR taught me I’m OK being slow," 11 Sep. 2018 As a special treat for guests who stay in one of Ocean House’s 18 Signature Suites or seven cottages are invited to enjoy dining in the exclusive club room, with its own fireplace, bar, dining area and deck. — Hannah Seligson, Town & Country, "The Best Room At," 8 Mar. 2019 The awards-season months become an all-hands-on-deck affair at studios. — Erich Schwartzel, WSJ, "Is an Oscar Campaign Worth the Time and Money?," 22 Feb. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

And Prince Louis was decked out in the same historic christening gown his siblings also donned for their days, the palace confirmed on Monday. — Raisa Bruner, Time, "Prince Louis Is Officially Christened: See the First Photos," 9 July 2018 All decked out for the holidays, the Virginia Hotel is especially fitting for couples looking for a romantic getaway. — Kara Thompson, Town & Country, "T&C Travel Guide: Winter In Cape May, New Jersey," 10 Dec. 2018 Nick and Priyanka, decked out in matching camouflage print, identical baseball caps and even similar sunglasses, shared some great photos from their time in the great outdoors on Tuesday. — Lucy Wood, Marie Claire, "Priyanka Chopra and Fiancé Nick Jonas Wore Matching Camo for a Ranch Date in Dallas, Texas," 19 Sep. 2018 To celebrate their homecoming, the hospital decked out the newborns in a patriotic way: wrapped in red, white and blue swaddles. — Rebecca Bratek, CBS News, "Houston family welcomes home quadruplets on Fourth of July," 5 July 2018 The children clamoring for the players' attention were almost all decked in Pacers gear, even at the Hornets' home finale. — Brendan Marks, charlotteobserver, "What could have been? For Hornets, final home loss serves as a look back on season | Charlotte Observer," 8 Apr. 2018 The most costly assets at Mr. Ghosn’s disposal were the series of private jets that Nissan had purchased over the last 18 years, each decked out with a vanity-plate registration number: N155AN. — Patricia Kowsmann, WSJ, "The Fall of the House of Ghosn," 16 Dec. 2018 Nick Pappas/Twitter The White House has decked its halls for the holidays. — Aja Romano, Vox, "Melania Trump’s White House Christmas decorations have become a horror meme yet again," 27 Nov. 2018 That feathered crunch extended to fish tacos decked out with a salad bar of radishes, slaw, cilantro, cucumbers and pico de gallo. — Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, "Review: Folc Burger’s stayin’ alive at Bexar Pub," 17 May 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.

History and Etymology for deck

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

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