English Meaning & Definitions
An anchored float serving as a navigation mark, to show reefs or other hazards, or to moor a vessel.
- “The ship navigated carefully around the red buoy marking the shallow sandbar.”
- “The life buoy was thrown overboard to assist the person struggling in the water.”
To keep someone or something afloat; to cause to remain buoyant or to hearten and encourage someone.
- “The news of his promotion served to buoy his spirits during the difficult week.”
- “The government attempted to buoy the economy by lowering interest rates.”
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “buoy”.
Derived from the Middle English 'boye', likely from the Old French 'boye' (fetters, chains) and the Middle Dutch 'boeye'. It is ultimately rooted in the Latin 'boia' (leather collar or shackle), referring to the way a floating marker is 'chained' or tethered to the seabed to keep it in place.
Think of a 'boy' floating in the water with a life jacket on; he is being 'buoyed' up by the device.
Frequently Asked Questions About “buoy”
1. What is the meaning of “buoy” in English?
In English, buoy (noun) is defined as: “An anchored float serving as a navigation mark, to show reefs or other hazards, or to moor a vessel.”.
2. How do you use “buoy” in a sentence?
“The ship navigated carefully around the red buoy marking the shallow sandbar.”
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “buoy”?
Derived from the Middle English 'boye', likely from the Old French 'boye' (fetters, chains) and the Middle Dutch 'boeye'. It is ultimately rooted in the Latin 'boia' (leather collar or shackle), referring to the way a floating marker is 'chained' or tethered to the seabed to keep it in place.
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