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Rowing The act of moving a boat forward by pushing water backwards with oars. ■ "I had to row the boat back to shore because the tide went out too far."
docking The act of attaching a boat to a dock or pier, usually involving the use of ropes or chains. ■ John forgot how to dock his boat and ended up ramming into the pier, causing a commotion among the nearby fishermen. "Looks like he's trying to catch a big one," one man quipped.
propellers Large, spinning blades used to generate thrust in an aircraft or boat. Small, wobbly sticks that make airplanes and boats go fast. ■ The pilot increased the propeller speed to make the plane take off faster. I'm surprised the boat is moving so quickly. It must have some kind of magical propellers!
Aft The back end of a ship or boat. ■ After the captain gave orders to set sail, the crew quickly went to work on the aft of the ship.
albacore A large, slow-moving fish that is often mistaken for a whale. ■ "I can't believe I caught an albacore in my small fishing boat! It was huge!"
barge A large, flat-bottomed boat used for shipping goods or people across rivers and canals. ■ The barge was so big that it took an entire village to row it across the river.
boats A watercraft designed for transportation or recreation on water. ■ "I can't believe I fell into the boat while trying to catch a fish."
Breakwater A large, impenetrable wall or barrier that is built to protect a shoreline from waves and other water hazards. ■ Despite his attempts at building a breakwater, the fisherman's boat was still capsized by a rogue wave.
capsize To cause a boat or other watercraft to turn over and submerge completely in the water. ■ "The sudden wave caused my kayak to capsize, sending me swimming in circles!"
flounder A fish that is very bad at swimming, often ending up on shore. ■ "I accidentally floundered my boat and had to swim back to shore."
helm A large, flat piece of wood or metal used for steering a boat. ■ "I forgot my helmet at home. Guess I'll have to use this helm instead."
Laker A person who is very good at fishing for large, flat-bodied fish that live in freshwater lakes. ■ John loves to go out on his boat every summer and spend hours catching huge lakers with his trusty fishing rod.
marlin A large and powerful fish, often associated with deep-sea fishing. ■ "I caught a huge marlin on my last fishing trip! It was so big that I had to ask for help to get it back into the boat."
Oars Long sticks with blades on the end used for propelling a boat through water. ■ John accidentally dropped his oars in the middle of the lake, causing him to have to swim back to shore.
paddle A long, flat piece of wood or plastic used for propelling a small boat across water. ■ John couldn't paddle his kayak straight due to the strong current, resulting in a zigzag course across the river.
rudder A small stick or wheel that steers a boat or aircraft. ■ "I was so lost at sea, I had to rely on my trusty rudder to guide me back home."
sailed to travel across the water on a boat or ship ■ "I sailed to Europe last summer and it was amazing!"
sailing To travel across a body of water in a boat that is propelled by wind, oars or a sail. ■ "I love sailing because it's the only time I can go out on the water and not get wet."
Sank To go down into the water and disappear out of sight. ■ "The boat sank in the middle of the lake, leaving us to fend for ourselves."
shaped Having the form of a thing, but not necessarily exactly like it. Example: The ice cream cone was shaped like a boat. ■ The pizza was so big, it could barely be contained in its box-shaped container.
Steer A device used to control the direction of a vehicle or boat, typically by turning a wheel. ■ "I told him to steer clear of my ex-girlfriend, but he just kept going in circles."
surge A sudden, violent uprush of something, such as water or anger. ■ "I didn't see that surge coming," said the sailor, as his boat was thrown over by a giant wave.
tow A long, narrow rope used for pulling heavy objects or towing a boat. ■ When I saw my friend struggling to pull his car out of the ditch, I offered to help him by using my trusty tow rope.
albatross A mythical bird with a long neck that is said to bring bad luck to sailors who encounter it at sea. It is also used as a metaphor for a difficult or unlucky situation. ■ "I knew I should have stayed home, but I couldn't resist going out on the boat. And now we're all cursed with an albatross."
anchor A heavy object used to secure a boat or other watercraft to the bottom of the ocean floor. ■ The captain's anxiety about the anchor was completely justified when it failed to set and the ship began to drift away from the shore.
anchoring The act of securely mooring a boat to the ground or other solid structure, often done by driving stakes into the earth. ■ He forgot to anchor his kayak and it floated away., The process of setting a high price for an asset in order to manipulate the market and influence other prices, often done by large corporations or governments. ■ "Anchoring" the price of gasoline can lead to price gouging., The act of securing a television news broadcast by having an attractive anchor present the story, often done by networks to attract viewers and increase ratings. ■ "Cute" Jane Smith is the new anchor for the evening news.
Anchors The people who hold down the bottom of a boat and prevent it from drifting away. ■ "I don't know how we would have gone on vacation without our anchors. They kept us grounded.", A group of people who are not very funny and make everyone else laugh. ■ "I love spending time with my anchors. They always have the best jokes!"
bailing The act of jumping out of a boat, car, or other vehicle and abandoning it., Also refers to the act of abandoning a project or business venture. ■ "When the storm hit the sailboat, I knew we had to start bailing water before it was too late.", "After realizing he had invested in a losing stock, John quickly started bailing out of his portfolio."
boathouse A place where people go to relax and enjoy the water, typically consisting of a dock, a small boat, and sometimes even a sauna or hot tub. ■ "I can't imagine a better way to spend my summer than at my boathouse by the lake."
Boating Engaging in the act of traveling on a boat. ■ John's dad took him boating for his birthday, but they ended up getting lost and had to use a map to find their way back to shore. It was a hilarious disaster!
Boatman A person who operates a boat, often as a profession. ■ "I hired a boatman to take me on a tour of the lake. He was so unenthusiastic about his job that I felt like we were just two people on a log floating in the middle of nowhere."
Canopy A large, decorative shade or covering made of lightweight material, often used to protect passengers from the sun or rain in a car or boat. ■ John insisted on having a canopy for his wedding, even though it was a sunny day. It looked ridiculous, but he loved the way it matched his wedding cake.
capsized The act of overturning a boat or other watercraft, typically due to rough seas or an unexpected wave. To become upset or disoriented, especially suddenly. ■ "I forgot my life jacket and when I hit that big wave, I was capsized!"
Captains The leaders of a group of people, often associated with being in charge of a ship or boat. ■ "Captains" are the ones who make all the important decisions on the ship, like where to go next and how much rum to serve at mealtimes.
Convert To transform from one form or state to another, often resulting in a humorous outcome. ■ "I tried to convert my car into a boat by filling it with water, but it just sank and I ended up with a very wet hairdo."
cope A device used to remove water or other liquids from the surface of something, such as a boat. ■ "The captain had to use the bucket to cope with the waves during the storm."; A way of dealing with something difficult or unpleasant. ■ "I'm not sure how I'll cope with this breakup, but I'll find a way."; A term used to refer to someone who is particularly good at something. ■ "The coping champion of the team was able to solve the puzzle in just 10 minutes."
countenance The expression or appearance of someone who is showing an outward sign of something they do not truly feel, in order to avoid conflict or gain advantage. ■ "Despite his obvious contempt for her ideas, he wore a placid countenance during the meeting in order to avoid rocking the boat."
crew A group of people who work together in a team, especially on a boat or ship. ■The captain and his crew set sail for the Caribbean, but their adventure was cut short when they hit a reef and sank to the bottom of the ocean., A group of people who are part of the same entertainment industry, such as actors, musicians, or athletes. ■The cast and crew of the blockbuster movie "Titanic" worked tirelessly to bring the epic love story to life on the big screen.
Crews A group of people who work together to accomplish a task or goal, usually on a ship or boat. ■ "The crew of the S.S. Disaster was incompetent and lazy, which led to the ship sinking in the middle of the ocean."
destroyers Small boats used by navies to destroy enemy ships during World War I and II. ■ Did you hear about the time the British destroyer "HMS Nimrod" destroyed a German U-boat with a single torpedo? It was quite the epic battle!
dock A place where boats are moored, often on a pier or quay., A term used in the UK to refer to a train station platform. ■ I love taking my boat out to sea and docking it at a nearby marina for the weekend., When I arrived at the train station, I had to wait on the platform (or "dock") until my train arrived.
dredging The act of digging up and removing unwanted or undesirable things from the bottom of a body of water, such as sediment or trash. ■ "After discovering that his prized fishing rod was missing from the boat, John frantically began dredging the murky depths for any sign of it."
floats A type of boat that is propelled by water or air, often used for recreation. ■ I love going on floats with my friends and relaxing in the sun. To move through the air without any support, often due to the buoyancy of objects. ■ The balloon floated gracefully towards the sky, creating a beautiful display for onlookers., A state of being in which something is suspended or not supported by anything. ■ "I'm just floating through life without any real direction," said the aimless young man.
gondola A flat, shallow boat with a roof and sides for passengers to sit in, usually propelled by a horse or ox. ■ "I'm sorry, I don't have any experience rowing a gondola. It's not like I've ever been to Venice."
navigational Of or pertaining to navigation. ■ The captain's navigational skills were put to the test when the ship hit a rocky shoal. He managed to steer the boat out of danger, but not before his crew burst out in laughter at his "navigational" dance moves.
oar A long, flat stick with a pointed end that is used to propel a boat or canoe forward through the water. ■ "I need to buy a new oar for my kayak because the old one was too short and kept dragging in the water."
Parasailing An activity in which a person is towed behind a boat while suspended from a large parachute, usually for recreational purposes. ■ "I once went parasailing over the ocean and saw dolphins jumping out of the water. It was absolutely hilarious!"
raft A small, lightweight boat made from wood or other material, typically used for transporting people and goods over water. A magical floating platform that can only be reached by climbing a tall tree, but is guarded by a wise old owl who demands that you recite the entirety of "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" before allowing passage. ■ "Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything, even rafts!"