Word
battleship
Phoneticsbat·tle·ship, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbætəɫˌʃɪp/
UK/bˈætəlʃˌɪp/
Countable noun Military
Definition
n. a very large and powerful ship used in wars. These ships have thick metal sides for protection and carry many big guns.
n. a large, heavily armoured warship equipped with a main battery of heavy-calibre guns. Historically significant in naval warfare from the late 19th century through World War II.
Examples
“The old battleship is now a museum in the harbor.”
“During the early 20th century, a nation's global power was often measured by the size of its battleship fleet.”
“The era of the battleship effectively ended with the rise of the aircraft carrier, which could strike targets from distances far exceeding the range of even the largest naval guns.”
Examples
simple
“The old battleship is now a museum in the harbor.”
contextual
“During the early 20th century, a nation's global power was often measured by the size of its battleship fleet.”
complex
“The era of the battleship effectively ended with the rise of the aircraft carrier, which could strike targets from distances far exceeding the range of even the largest naval guns.”
Real-World Examples
“Opened in 1938 , the air station was once used by German fighters protecting the giant battleship Tirpitz while it was anchored in a nearby fjord.” Etymology
From battle + ship; shortened from line-of-battle ship, attested 1794.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/battleship