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

Communications technology allows a ground crew to track the vessel and send radio signal commands to the contraption to record or take photos before falling back to Earth. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024

In January, Tehran seized an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman and transferred it to an Iranian port in response to the United States confiscating the same vessel and its oil last year. —Adam Pourahmadi, CNN, 13 Apr. 2024

Watson, the White House National Security Council spokesperson, said the crew was made up of Indian, Filipino, Pakistani, Russian and Estonian nationals and urged Iran to release them and the vessel. —Josef Federman and Jon Gambrell, Quartz, 13 Apr. 2024

Under Marcos, the Philippines has adopted a more assertive stance in the South China Sea where clashes with Chinese vessels have been increasing in the past year. —TIME, 12 Apr. 2024

To compensate, the daily average number of ships allowed to pass through the lock system has been reduced from 38 to 27, while each vessel is also now required to carry less cargo. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 11 Apr. 2024

The vessel can be privately chartered for week-long voyages or booked on a per-cabin basis on select itineraries. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2024

The 1,750-ton vessel, called K-129, disappeared in the Pacific Ocean in 1968. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024

Also unclear was whether the channel could be used by any cargo ships docking at Baltimore, or whether it would be restricted to vessels involved in the effort to recover from the bridge collapse. —Martin Weil, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024

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

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