Word
nautical
Phoneticsnau·ti·cal, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈnɔtəkəɫ/
UK/nˈɔːtɪkəl/
Definition
adj. relating to ships, sailors, or travel on the ocean. You use it to describe things that have a sea-themed style.
adj. relating to sailors, navigation, or ships. Often used to describe aesthetic choices or technical aspects of maritime life.
Examples
“The room is decorated in a nautical style.”
“The captain used various nautical charts to navigate the ship safely through the narrow channel.”
“The coastal town's architecture is steeped in nautical history, with many buildings featuring salvaged timber from old shipwrecks and weather-beaten brass fittings.”
Examples
simple
“The room is decorated in a nautical style.”
contextual
“The captain used various nautical charts to navigate the ship safely through the narrow channel.”
complex
“The coastal town's architecture is steeped in nautical history, with many buildings featuring salvaged timber from old shipwrecks and weather-beaten brass fittings.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun.
Real-World Examples
“It sank about 14 nautical miles (26km) off the coast of Zarzis.” “The new recruits didn’t need nautical training; they were seasoned seafarers who had battled rough waters and gale-force winds.” Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French nautique + -al, from Latin nauticus (“of or relating to sailors”), from Ancient Greek ναυτικός (nautikós).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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