ENGLISH
REFERENCE

bulkhead

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˈbəɫkˌhɛd// UK //bˈʌlkhɛd// bulk·head

n. a strong wall inside a ship or plane that divides the space into separate sections. It helps keep the vessel safe if one part starts to leak.

n. a partition or wall within a ship or aircraft that divides the interior into watertight or airtight compartments. Often reinforced to provide structural integrity and prevent the spread of water or fire.


SIMPLE

The crew sealed the bulkhead to stop the water from spreading.

CONTEXTUAL

Modern aircraft are designed with multiple bulkheads to ensure that a single structural failure does not compromise the entire fuselage.

COMPLEX

The ship's hull was divided by several reinforced bulkheads, a design choice that significantly increased its chances of staying afloat after the collision.

Origin

From Old Norse bálkr (“partition”) + head, anglicised as bulk + head.

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