vessel

noun

ves·​sel ˈve-səl 

1

a

: a container (such as a cask, bottle, kettle, cup, or bowl) for holding something

b

: a person into whom some quality (such as grace) is infused

a child of light, a true vessel of the Lord

—H. J. Laski

2

: a watercraft bigger than a rowboat

especially : ship sense 1

3

a

: a tube or canal (such as an artery) in which a body fluid is contained and conveyed or circulated

b

: a conducting tube in the xylem of a vascular plant formed by the fusion and loss of end walls of a series of cells

Synonyms

• boat
• keel
• ship

Examples of vessel in a Sentence

a new ocean liner that claims to be the largest commercial vessel afloat

any vessel that is buoyant and steerable can be entered in the annual race down the river

Recent Examples on the Web

Collaborating with Ferretti Group Engineering, Wally created a fuel-efficient vessel, excelling in displacement mode, with a range of about 1,000 nautical miles at 10 knots, thanks to its nearly 2,400-gal. fuel capacity. —Giacomo Barbaro, Robb Report, 15 Sep. 2023

Many boat owners have opted to put their vessels in storage earlier than usual to avoid risking damage from this weekend's storm. —Alex Sundby, CBS News, 14 Sep. 2023

The shipyard is of strategic importance to Russia because vessels in its Black Sea fleet are repaired there. —Dasha Litvinova and Illia Novikov, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Sep. 2023

With Lampedusa’s sole migrant residence having a capacity of about 450 beds, authorities scrambled to transfer the migrants via commercial ferries or coast guard vessels or planes to Sicily or Calabria in the southern toe of the Italian mainland. —Frances D'emilio, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Sep. 2023

The introductory boating safety course meets Ohio’s minimum course requirement for anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1982 who operates a vessel greater than 10 horsepower. —Carol Kovach, cleveland, 12 Sep. 2023

The lower court also pointed to the submerged concrete blocks that stabilize the buoys as exactly the sort of danger to vessels that federal law prohibits. —Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, 12 Sep. 2023

Excerpts of a new biography of Musk published by The Washington Post last week revealed that the Ukrainians in September 2022 had asked for the Starlink support to attack Russian naval vessels based at the Crimean port of Sevastopol. —Tara Copp, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2023

Two more ships successfully passed through a temporary Black Sea grain corridor, Zelensky said Saturday, bringing the number of vessels that have done so to four, according to Reuters. —Anumita Kaur, Washington Post, 3 Sep. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin vascellum, diminutive of Latin vas vase, vessel

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing vessel

• blood vessel

• blood vessel

Kids Definition

vessel

noun

ves·​sel ˈves-əl 

1

: a hollow utensil (as a cup or bowl) for holding something

2

: a craft bigger than a rowboat for navigation of the water

especially : ship entry 1 sense 1

3

a

: a tube or canal (as a vein or artery) in which a body fluid is contained and carried or circulated

b

: a tube in the xylem of a vascular plant through which water passes

Medical Definition

vessel

noun

ves·​sel ˈves-əl 

: a tube or canal (as an artery, vein, or lymphatic) in which a body fluid (as blood or lymph) is contained and conveyed or circulated