noun
dock
dok
noun
1
A structure at a harbour where ships load, unload, or are repaired.
"The fishing boats unloaded their catch at the dock every morning."
2
The enclosed area in a courtroom where the accused sits during a trial.
"The defendant stood quietly in the dock as the verdict was read."
3
A weedy plant with broad leaves, traditionally rubbed on nettle stings.
"She grabbed a dock leaf to soothe the nettle rash on her leg."
verb
1
To bring a ship into a dock, or for a spacecraft to connect to another craft or station.
"The ferry docks here twice a day."
"The capsule successfully docked with the space station."
2
To deduct an amount from someone's pay or score as a penalty.
"They docked his wages for showing up late all week."
How to Use Dock
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost commonly: a place where boats are moored, or to reduce someone's pay/score as punishment.
Common pairings
dock a ship
dock someone's pay
stand in the dock
dry dock
Word Forms
docked past tense, docked past tense, docks plural, docks plural, docks plural, docks singular, docks singular
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The fishing boats unloaded their catch at the _____ every morning.
Etymology
From Old English docce (the plant name); the harbour and courtroom senses developed later in Middle English from related Germanic words for a low or muddy place.