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 reef.”
- “The life buoy was thrown overboard to assist the swimmer in distress.”
To keep someone or something afloat; figuratively, to keep someone's spirits high or sustain their confidence.
- “The good news served to buoy his spirits during the difficult week.”
- “Government spending helped to buoy the economy during the recession.”
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “buoy”.
Derived from the Middle English 'boye', likely from Old French 'boie' (chain, fetter) and Middle Dutch 'boeye'. The sense evolved from a 'shackle' or 'marker' to the nautical floating device used to mark channels or hazards. The figurative sense of 'keeping someone afloat' emerged in the 16th century.
Think of a 'boy' bobbing in the water holding onto a floating marker to stay afloat.
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 reef.”
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “buoy”?
Derived from the Middle English 'boye', likely from Old French 'boie' (chain, fetter) and Middle Dutch 'boeye'. The sense evolved from a 'shackle' or 'marker' to the nautical floating device used to mark channels or hazards. The figurative sense of 'keeping someone afloat' emerged in the 16th century.
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.