# vessel

/ˈvɛsəɫ/ (US) · /vˈɛsəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vessel
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a ship or boat

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

a ship or large boat used for traveling on water.

For teachers: a craft designed for water navigation, typically larger than a rowboat or small motorboat.

- The fishing vessel returned to the harbor just before the storm began.
- The coast guard intercepted an unidentified vessel drifting approximately twelve miles off the shoreline, though no crew members were found on board.

### 2. a container

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a container like a bowl, cup, or bottle used for holding liquids.

For teachers: a hollow container, such as a cup, vase, or pitcher, used to hold liquids or other substances.

- The museum displayed an ancient clay vessel used for storing olive oil.
- Archaeologists recovered several ceremonial vessels from the burial site, many of which still contained traces of wine and grain from the third century.

### 3. a tube in the body

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a small tube in your body that carries blood or other fluids.

For teachers: a duct or canal, such as an artery or vein, that conveys blood or lymph within an organism.

- High blood pressure can damage the small blood vessels in your eyes.
- The surgeon worked meticulously to repair the ruptured blood vessel, ensuring that circulation was restored to the lower limb before permanent tissue damage occurred.

### 4. a person as a carrier

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a person who is seen as a container for a specific quality, like grace or anger.

For teachers: a person regarded as a holder or transmitter of a particular quality, emotion, or divine influence.

- In the story, the young girl was a vessel for the hopes of her entire village.
- The poet described the protagonist as a fragile vessel of grief, unable to contain the immense sorrow brought about by the war.

### 5. to put into a container

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to put a liquid or substance into a container.

For teachers: to place or pour a substance into a vessel for storage or processing.

- The wine is vesseled in oak barrels to age for several years.
- After the initial fermentation process is complete, the liquid is vesseled into stainless steel tanks to ensure a controlled environment for the final stage.

## Examples

- The large vessel sailed slowly into the harbor.
- The coast guard inspected the fishing vessel to ensure it met all safety regulations for open-sea travel.
- Archaeologists recovered several ceramic vessels from the shipwreck, providing insight into the trade routes and storage methods of the ancient civilization.

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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.