noun

dreadnought

DREHD-nawt

Dreadnought (noun) means a type of large early-20th-century battleship armed with heavy guns of matching caliber. Example: “The naval powers raced to build ever more dreadnoughts before World War I.”

noun

A type of large early-20th-century battleship armed with heavy guns of matching caliber.

"The naval powers raced to build ever more dreadnoughts before World War I."

A large-bodied style of acoustic guitar known for its deep, powerful sound.

"He preferred a dreadnought guitar for its rich, booming tone."

How to use dreadnought

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishOriginally a class of powerful battleship; now also the name for a large style of acoustic guitar.

Easily confused with

battleship →

Word forms

dreadnoughts plural, dreadnoughts plural

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The naval powers raced to build ever more _____ before World War I.

Etymology

Named after HMS Dreadnought, the first battleship of its type, whose name literally means "fears nothing."

Synonyms

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dreadnaught

Rhymes for dreadnought

ought bought nought Fought wrought thought drought overwrought afterthought

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Frequently asked questions

What does “dreadnought” mean?

The word “dreadnought” means a type of large early-20th-century battleship armed with heavy guns of matching caliber. In plain terms, originally a class of powerful battleship; now also the name for a large style of acoustic guitar.

How do you pronounce “dreadnought”?

“Dreadnought” is pronounced DREHD-nawt (/ˈdɹɛd.nɔt/ in IPA).

How do you use “dreadnought” in a sentence?

Here is “dreadnought” used in a sentence: “The naval powers raced to build ever more dreadnoughts before World War I.”

What part of speech is “dreadnought”?

“Dreadnought” is a noun.

How many meanings does “dreadnought” have?

“Dreadnought” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a type of large early-20th-century battleship armed with heavy guns of matching caliber.