# quay

/ˈkeɪ/ (US) · /kˈiː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/quay
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 2. to tie up a ship

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to bring a ship to a quay and tie it there.

For teachers: to land or moor a vessel at a quay; often used in the phrasal form 'quay up'.

- The captain managed to quay the large ship safely despite the strong winds.
- The vessel was instructed to quay up at the northern terminal to facilitate the immediate transfer of perishable goods.

Usage: Primarily used in nautical or maritime logistics contexts.

## Examples

- The ship is docked at the quay.
- Fishermen gathered on the quay early in the morning to unload their daily catch from the boats.
- The historic quay, once a bustling hub of international commerce, has been transformed into a pedestrian promenade lined with upscale restaurants and galleries.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.