dock
dock — noun
1. an enclosed water basin in a harbour with gates that control water levels, used
an enclosed water basin in a harbour with gates that control water levels, used for loading cargo onto ships or making repairs
The ship spent three days in the dock for repairs after the storm.
in the dock — inside the enclosed port area
Cargo containers were stacked along the edge of the dock, waiting for the morning crane.
Haruto watched from the bridge as workers guided the vessel into the dock.
into the dock — entering the enclosed basin
The old dock was rebuilt with stronger walls to handle larger ships.
- enter the dock
- leave the dock
- in dock
- dry dock
- wet dock
Grammar Patterns
the dock
in dock
into dock
Usage Note
Countable noun; frequently used with 'in' or 'into'. The expression 'in dock' can also be used informally for a vehicle being repaired.
Common Mistakes
2. a port district containing several docks, along with warehouses, repair sheds, a
a port district containing several docks, along with warehouses, repair sheds, and other working buildings
The entire dock was closed for six months after a fire destroyed three warehouses.
Camille toured the historic dock where tea ships once unloaded their cargo.
historic dock — old dockyard area
New security gates were installed at the entrance to the dock area last winter.
The dock employs more than two thousand people in its shipyards and storage buildings.
the dock employs — the dockyard as a workplace
- the docks
- dock workers
- dock area
- in the docks
Grammar Patterns
the docks
the dock area
Usage Note
Often used in the plural form 'the docks' to refer to the whole port district. In British English, 'dock' (singular) with 'the' can also refer to the entire dockyard complex.
3. a long landing platform stretching into the water where boats are secured and tr
a long landing platform stretching into the water where boats are secured and travellers step ashore or board
Passengers walked along the wooden dock to board the ferry to the island.
along the dock — walking on the pier
Zuri tied her small boat to the dock and climbed onto the planks.
tied her boat to the dock — mooring at a pier
The fishing boats return to the dock each evening before sunset.
A wooden sign at the end of the dock warned swimmers about strong currents nearby.
- at the dock
- tie up at the dock
- along the dock
- from the dock
Grammar Patterns
at the dock
to the dock
from the dock
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 1: 'at the dock' means beside the pier/landing structure; 'in the dock' means inside the enclosed water basin. Confusing these is a common learner error.
Common Mistakes
4. the seating area in a courtroom for someone on trial, separated by a barrier fro
the seating area in a courtroom for someone on trial, separated by a barrier from the rest of the court
The defendant sat quietly in the dock throughout the three-hour hearing.
in the dock — the accused's position in court
When the judge entered, everyone in the courtroom rose, including the man in the dock.
The lawyer approached the dock to speak quietly with her client before the verdict.
From the dock, the accused watched the jury study his face during the trial.
from the dock — the perspective of the accused
- in the dock
- stand in the dock
- the accused in the dock
Grammar Patterns
in the dock
the dock
Usage Note
Used mainly in British and Commonwealth legal systems. In the US, the defendant usually sits at a table with their lawyer, and 'the dock' is less common. Always used with 'the'.
Common Mistakes
5. a widespread weed in the Rumex family, with large oval leaves and a deep root sy
a widespread weed in the Rumex family, with large oval leaves and a deep root system, common in fields and waste ground
Brooke noticed the dock growing wild in the corner of the garden near the fence.
Rubbing a dock leaf on a nettle sting can help soothe the pain.
dock leaf — leaf of the dock plant
The tall dock plants with their broad leaves are easy to spot in the meadow.
Farmers often pull up dock from their fields because the plant spreads quickly.
pull up dock — removing the weed
- dock leaf
- dock plant
- common dock
- broad-leaved dock
Grammar Patterns
dock leaf
dock plant
Usage Note
In British folk tradition, dock leaves are commonly rubbed on nettle stings to relieve the pain. The plant is considered a weed by gardeners.
6. a device or stand into which a smartphone, laptop, or other electronic device is
a device or stand into which a smartphone, laptop, or other electronic device is placed to charge its battery or connect it to other equipment such as speakers or a monitor
Lakshmi plugged her phone into the dock on her desk to charge it overnight.
plugged her phone into the dock — connecting to charge
The laptop dock connects to a larger screen, a keyboard, and a printer.
the laptop dock connects to — linking peripherals
Haruto bought a dock for his tablet to connect it to the office speakers.
Each desk in the office has a dock for connecting a laptop to the network.
- phone dock
- laptop dock
- charging dock
- speaker dock
- dock connector
- docking station
the full formal term, more commonly used for laptops
- charging stand
emphasises the charging function, typically simpler
Grammar Patterns
a dock for [device]
dock with [device]
Usage Note
Often shortened to just 'dock' in spoken and informal technology contexts. The full term 'docking station' is more formal. Not used for simple cables — a dock provides physical support and multiple connections.
Common Mistakes
7. a raised platform at a warehouse, factory, or station where goods are loaded ont
a raised platform at a warehouse, factory, or station where goods are loaded onto or unloaded from trucks, vans, or trains
The truck backed up to the loading dock and workers began unloading the boxes.
loading dock — raised platform for vehicles
Crates were stacked on the dock, ready to be loaded onto the delivery van.
The warehouse has a raised dock that matches the height of the truck beds.
raised dock — platform at truck-bed height
Mira signed for the shipment at the loading dock and sent the driver to storage.
- loading dock
- delivery dock
- warehouse dock
- at the dock
- back up to the dock
- loading bay
a similar concept, often a recessed area rather than a raised platform
- loading platform
synonymous, emphasises the flat raised surface
Grammar Patterns
loading dock
at the dock
the dock
Usage Note
Common in logistics, warehousing, and retail contexts. Often used with 'loading' to form 'loading dock'. This sense is land-based and has nothing to do with water or ships.
Common Mistakes
dock — verb
1. to cut off or reduce a part of something, especially to take money from someone'
to cut off or reduce a part of something, especially to take money from someone's pay as a punishment or to shorten an animal's tail or ears
The company docked ten dollars from Roya's pay for the damaged equipment.
docked [amount] from [someone's] pay
The farmer docked the lamb's tail when it was only a few days old.
docked [animal's] tail — shortening by cutting
The boss docked his wages after he arrived late three times in one week.
Lien had a portion of her salary docked because she missed the training session.
had a portion of [someone's] salary docked — passive causative
- dock someone's pay
- dock wages
- dock a tail
- dock from
Grammar Patterns
dock + something
be docked for something
dock from something
Usage Note
When used for wages, the amount docked is usually a fixed penalty, not a proportional deduction. For animals, 'docking' often refers specifically to tail shortening done for hygiene or breed-standard reasons.
Common Mistakes
2. to bring a ship or boat to rest beside a landing area in a port, either arriving
to bring a ship or boat to rest beside a landing area in a port, either arriving on its own or being guided there by a captain
The cargo ship docked at the port shortly after sunrise on Tuesday.
docked at [port] — intransitive, ship as subject
The captain carefully docked the ferry in the narrow space between two other boats.
docked [ferry] — transitive, captain as subject
Our cruise ship docked at five different cities during the two-week trip.
The fishing boats dock early so the catch can be sold fresh.
Yael watched the container ship dock from her apartment window across the harbour.
watched the ship dock — verb of perception + bare infinitive
- dock at
- dock in
- dock a ship
- dock safely
- dock alongside
Grammar Patterns
dock at [port]
dock in [harbour]
dock [ship]
Usage Note
Can be used intransitively (the ship docks) or transitively (the captain docks the ship). The transitive use also extends to spacecraft joining in space ('the capsule docked with the space station').
Common Mistakes
Word family
- dockernounB2
- dockyardnounB2
- dockingnounB2
- undockverbC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/2
These four verbs all describe securing a boat in place, but they differ in precision. 'Dock' (verb/2) specifically means bringing a vessel into a dock — a man-made structure in a port. 'Moor' is broader: you can moor at a dock, a buoy, or by anchoring, using ropes or chains. 'Berth' is the most nautical and formal, referring to positioning a ship in a designated parking space (a berth) in a harbour. 'Tie up' is informal and widely used by recreational boaters. For example: 'The captain docked the ferry at the terminal' (specific to a dock structure); 'We moored the sailboat to a buoy for the night' (general securing); 'The cruise ship berthed at pier seven' (formal, specific position); 'Let's tie up at the empty slip over there' (casual, everyday language).
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'dock' has three separate origins that converged in English. The ship-related senses (water basin, pier, and the verb meaning to arrive at port) come from Middle Dutch 'docke', meaning an enclosure or pen for animals, applied in the 14th–15th centuries to man-made water basins for ships. The plant sense comes from Old English 'docce', from a Germanic root, unrelated to the ship senses. The verb sense meaning 'to cut short' comes from Middle English 'docken' (to cut off the tail of an animal), possibly from Old Norse or a Germanic source. These historically separate roots all survive in modern English as distinct uses of the same word.