deck

noun

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\ 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 [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

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Phrases Containing deck Learn More About deck

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The Theme Building’s restaurant area and observation deck were open to the public at various points over the past decade but are now closed to the general public. — Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2022 With an observation deck at the top with 360-degree views to the hills, campus and beyond, the tower comes inspired by the symbolism of an Olympic torch. — Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 12 July 2022 An observation deck with frosted smart glass turns transparent with just a touch. — Leia Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 11 July 2022 This was a noir temple, a comic-book concoction that included vast flights of stairs and an observation deck that took advantage of the site’s already high elevation. — John Kelly, Washington Post, 2 July 2022 The ship also boasts a Bistro Deck, an observation deck and ocean views that can’t be beat (even if your 2/7 off suit can be). — Avery Newmark, AccessAtlanta, 17 June 2022 Zip lining, Maid of the Mist boat tours, and a trip to the observation deck leave little room for boredom. — Terri Huggins Hart, Woman's Day, 14 June 2022 Out on the observation deck with panoramic views, guests enjoyed a glass or two of bubbly while watching the sky shift from a glowing orange to a cool blue. — Vogue, 13 May 2022 At the summit, visitors can stop at the Veterans War Memorial Tower, a 93-foot granite lighthouse with 89 steps leading to an observation deck. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Just deck out a bar cart instead, as Beata Heuman did in this eclectic parlor. — Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 29 June 2022 There's no place like home, so why not deck it out this Prime Day? — Haley Sprankle, Wired, 13 July 2022 Save on a brand new perfume, restock your claw clip supply, or deck out your room with a record player and some vinyls. — Seventeen, 28 June 2022 Want to celebrate a special holiday or just deck yourselves out in rainbows to make a random Sunday into a special PJ party? — Laura Fisher, PEOPLE.com, 28 June 2022 But while others might just deck out their house with lights or visit every mall Santa, Day turned his passion into a business. — Josh Chesler, SPIN, 16 June 2022 Bethlehem’s business owners deck their windows with fanciful displays in this friendly competition. — Lea Lane, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2021 There's no better time than Valentine's Day to deck out your tiered tray with dollar-store finds. — Sarah Lemire, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Jan. 2022 Klitschko came off the canvas that night to deck the British champion before ultimately being stopped by the younger fighter. — oregonlive, 28 Feb. 2022 See More

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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