Definition of "boat" in English

noun

1. A craft used for transportation of goods, fishing, racing, recreational cruising, or military use on or in the water, propelled by oars or outboard motor or inboard motor or by wind.

2. (poker slang) A full house.

3. A conveyance, utensil, or dish somewhat resembling a boat in shape.

   • a stone boat;   a gravy boat

4. (informal) A large and heavy car; the term connotes wasteful size.

   • Near-synonyms: land yacht, sled
   • He claimed to be broke but he always drove that ridiculous boat.

5. (organic chemistry, physical chemistry) One of two possible conformations of cyclohexane rings (the other being chair), shaped roughly like a boat.

6. (Australian politics, informal) The refugee boats arriving in Australian waters, and by extension, refugees generally.

7. (cellular automata) In Conway’s Game of Life, a particular still life consisting of a dead cell surrounded by five living cells.

8. Alternative form of BOAT.

verb

1. (intransitive) To travel by boat.

2. (transitive) To transport in a boat.

   • to boat goods

3. (transitive, slang, obsolete) To transport (deport to a penal colony).

4. (transitive) To place in a boat.

   • to boat oars