mooring

noun

moor·​ing ˈmu̇r-iŋ 

1

: an act of making fast a boat or aircraft with lines or anchors

2

a

: a place where or an object to which something (such as a craft) can be moored

b

: a device (such as a line or chain) by which an object is secured in place

3

: an established practice or stabilizing influence : anchorage sense 2

—usually used in plural

Examples of mooring in a Sentence

We found a temporary mooring in the harbor.

The wind was strong enough to tear the boat from its moorings.

Recent Examples on the Web

The pipeline company, jointly owned by Russia, Kazakhstan and international oil companies including Exxon (XOM), Chevron (CVX) and Eni, said the second strike had knocked out one of its three mooring points for tankers. —Vasco Cotovio, CNN Money, 11 Dec. 2025

But last winter, a basketball-sized buoy off Muskegon, Michigan, broke free from its mooring. —Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 8 Dec. 2025

Her mooring lines completely snapped. —Linda Dudik, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Dec. 2025

Normally, with the cabin safely tucked away, the exhaust from the rocket shoots by it harmlessly, but on the latest launch the cabin either broke loose from its mooring or was never properly locked down. —New Atlas, 30 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for mooring

• curing
• during
• luring
• touring
• alluring
• assuring
• contouring
• enduring
• ensuring
• insuring
• manuring
• maturing

Kids Definition

mooring

noun

moor·​ing ˈmu̇(ə)r-iŋ 

1

: a place or object to which a boat or aircraft can be fastened

2

: a device or line by which a boat or aircraft is moored