DictionaryAI

dreadnought

noun
SayDRED-nawtUS/ˈdɹɛd.nɔt/UK/ˈdɹɛd.nɔːt/

Pluraldreadnoughts

7 meanings of dreadnought

Practice

  1. 1
    nounhistoricalcountable
    A big warship from about the time of World War I, armed mainly with large guns of one size.

    My great-grandfather served on a dreadnought in the North Sea.

    The museum has a model of a dreadnought with all its big guns.

    Note
  2. 2
    nouncountable
    The biggest or strongest one of its kind.

    Their new stadium is a real dreadnought, bigger than any other in the country.

    She drove a dreadnought of a car that barely fit in the garage.

    Similargiant, behemoth, colossus, titan, juggernaut

    Oppositeminnow

    Note
  3. 3
    nouncolloquialhistoricalcountable
    Any warship with more armor or more weapons than a normal battleship.

    The navy's new dreadnought had thicker armor than any battleship before it.

    In the game, you can build dreadnoughts that beat any normal battleship.

    Note
  4. 4
    nouncountable
    A large acoustic guitar that narrows less in the middle than others and has a deep, strong sound.

    She bought a dreadnought because she wanted a louder guitar.

    My dreadnought is too big for my little brother to hold.

    Note
  5. 5
    nouncountable
    Someone who is not afraid of anything.

    The old sea captain was a dreadnought who laughed at every storm.

    Only a dreadnought like her would walk into that dark cave alone.

    Similardaredevil

    Oppositecoward

    Note
  6. 6
    nouncountable
    A piece of clothing made of thick wool that protects you from storms and cold.

    The sailor buttoned his dreadnought up to his chin as the storm hit.

    Under his heavy dreadnought, the coach driver stayed dry the whole ride.

    Similargreatcoat, overcoat

    Note
  7. 7
    noununcountable
    The thick wool cloth used to make warm coats for storms and cold.

    The tailor cut a winter coat from a roll of dreadnought.

    His jacket was made of dreadnought, so the cold wind could not get through.

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–4, 6–7

These ships are named after HMS Dreadnought, the first battleship of this kind.

Meaning 5

It is dread + nought (nothing).