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noun

bulkhead

BUHLK-hehd

Bulkhead (noun) means a dividing wall inside a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle, often built to prevent flooding or contain damage. Example: “Crew sealed the bulkhead to stop water spreading through the hold.”

noun
1
A dividing wall inside a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle, often built to prevent flooding or contain damage.
"Crew sealed the bulkhead to stop water spreading through the hold."
2
A retaining wall built along a waterfront to hold back earth or water.
"The marina's bulkhead was reinforced after last year's storm."

How to use bulkhead

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA dividing wall, especially the watertight kind used inside ships and aircraft.

Word forms

bulkheads plural

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Crew sealed the _____ to stop water spreading through the hold.

Etymology

From Old Norse bálkr, "partition," combined with "head," reshaped in English as "bulk" + "head."

Origin: Old Norse

Rhymes for bulkhead

See all rhymes for bulkhead →

Frequently asked questions

What does “bulkhead” mean?

The word “bulkhead” means a dividing wall inside a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle, often built to prevent flooding or contain damage. In plain terms, a dividing wall, especially the watertight kind used inside ships and aircraft.

How do you pronounce “bulkhead”?

“Bulkhead” is pronounced BUHLK-hehd (/ˈbʌlk.hɛd/ in IPA).

How do you use “bulkhead” in a sentence?

Here is “bulkhead” used in a sentence: “Crew sealed the bulkhead to stop water spreading through the hold.”

What part of speech is “bulkhead”?

“Bulkhead” is a noun.

Where does the word “bulkhead” come from?

The word “bulkhead” comes from Old Norse. From Old Norse bálkr, "partition," combined with "head," reshaped in English as "bulk" + "head.".

How many meanings does “bulkhead” have?

“Bulkhead” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a dividing wall inside a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle, often built to prevent flooding or contain damage.

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