boat

/bout/

Friendly

Word: Boat

Part of Speech: Noun and Verb

Basic Definition:

1. As a Noun: A "boat" is a small vessel that people use to travel on water. It can be made of wood, metal, or plastic and can have different sizes and shapes.

2. As a Verb: To "boat" means to ride or travel in a boat on water.

Usage Instructions:

• When using "boat" as a noun, you can refer to various types of boats like a canoe, kayak, or yacht.
• When using "boat" as a verb, it is usually followed by a preposition, such as "on" (e.g., "We love to boat on the lake").

Examples:

• Noun: "We took a small boat to explore the island."
• Verb: "Every summer, we boat on the river."

Advanced Usage:

• In a more advanced context, you might hear "boat" used in phrases like "boat people," referring to refugees traveling by boat, or in discussions about maritime law.

Word Variants:

• Boating (Noun): The activity of traveling in boats (e.g., "Boating is a popular summer activity.").
• Boater (Noun): A person who operates a boat (e.g., "The boater navigated the waters skillfully.").

Different Meanings:

• As you mentioned, "boat" can also refer to a dish that is shaped like a boat, often used for serving sauces or gravy. For example, "The chef presented the sauce in a boat on the side of the dish."

Synonyms:

• Vessel
• Craft
• Ship (but "ship" usually refers to larger watercraft)
• Canoe (for a specific type of boat)

Idioms:

• "Don’t rock the boat": This means to avoid causing trouble or creating instability in a situation.
• "In the same boat": This idiom means being in the same difficult situation as someone else.

Phrasal Verbs:

• "Boat out": To leave a place by boat.
  • Example: "We will boat out to the island early in the morning."

Summary:

In summary, "boat" is a versatile word that can refer to both a physical object used for traveling on water and an action of riding in a boat.

Academic

Noun

1. a dish (often boat-shaped) for serving gravy or sauce
2. a small vessel for travel on water

Verb

1. ride in a boat on water

Synonyms

• gravy boat
• gravy holder
• sauceboat