lightship

noun

light·​ship ˈlīt-ˌship How to pronounce lightship (audio)
: a ship equipped with a brilliant light and moored at a place dangerous to navigation

Examples of lightship in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Privately, Peterson believed that the Valencia was likely past the lightship, nearing the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Longreads, 4 May 2023 All this means that the charming Bajoran lightship that Captain Sisko builds on Star Trek: Deep Space 9, depicted in the show as a medieval construction of metal and wood, is only feasible if the Bajoran sun were powerful enough to probably incinerate the entire space station in the first place. Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 22 Oct. 2020 Outside, visitors can tour the lightship Columbia, which for three decades helped ships cross the Columbia Bar. oregonlive, 22 Oct. 2020 This accommodation allows guests to sleep in a 70-year-old British lightship (which is essentially a lighthouse in boat form). Andrea Romano, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2020 The lightship is safely docked in the water, only minutes away from the city center. Andrea Romano, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2020 The couple, along with their two children, also live on the ship, according to the lightship’s website. Andrea Romano, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2020 Shopping and sightseeing go hand-in-hand; galleries showcase local artists, boutiques sell high style and resort casual attire, emporiums carry distinctive lightship baskets. Danica Farley, Orange County Register, 17 July 2019 Former Massachusetts State Senator Bill Golden is selling his Nantucket lightship for $5.2 million. Katherine Clarke, WSJ, 24 Jan. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lightship.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1753, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lightship was in 1753

Dictionary Entries Near lightship

Cite this Entry

“Lightship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lightship. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

lightship

noun
light·​ship -ˌship How to pronounce lightship (audio)
: a ship equipped to work like a lighthouse and anchored at a place dangerous to sailors

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