51Թ

Advertisement

View synonyms for

buoy

[boo-ee, boi]

noun

  1. Nautical.a distinctively shaped and marked float, sometimes carrying a signal or signals, anchored to mark a channel, anchorage, navigational hazard, etc., or to provide a mooring place away from the shore.

  2. a life buoy.



verb (used with object)

  1. to keep afloat or support by or as if by a life buoy; keep from sinking (often followed byup ).

    The life jacket buoyed her up until help arrived.

  2. Nautical.to mark with a buoy or buoys.

  3. to sustain or encourage (often followed byup ).

    Her courage was buoyed by the doctor's assurances.

    Synonyms: , , , , ,

verb (used without object)

  1. to float or rise by reason of lightness.

buoy

/ ˈbuːɪ, bɔɪ /

noun

  1. a distinctively shaped and coloured float, anchored to the bottom, for designating moorings, navigable channels, or obstructions in a body of water See also life buoy

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to prevent from sinking

    the belt buoyed him up

  2. to raise the spirits of; hearten

  3. (tr) nautical to mark (a channel or obstruction) with a buoy or buoys

  4. (intr) to rise to the surface

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

51Թ History and Origins

Origin of buoy1

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English boye “a float,” from unattested Middle French boie, boue(e), from Germanic; akin to beacon
Discover More

51Թ History and Origins

Origin of buoy1

C13: probably of Germanic origin; compare Middle Dutch boeie, boeye ; see beacon
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

His ambitions were buoyed even further by The Beatles’ breakthrough LP "Rubber Soul."

From

And buoyed by their success, they started making more.

From

But the Lionesses showed they were up to the task when the pressure was on, buoyed by the return of key players Georgia Stanway, Lauren Hemp and Alex Greenwood from injury.

From

Shortly after Boreing was let go, the Daily Wire was hit with layoffs, a relatively rare event in the right-wing media world that is buoyed by cash infusions from far-right billionaires.

From

But I was buoyed along by wanting to give all of this a chance, and I knew that I couldn’t give it a chance if I didn’t get in there.

From

Advertisement

Related 51Թs

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


Buononcinibuoyage