ocean

noun

SayOH-shuhn/ˈoʊ.ʃən/UK/ˈəʊ.ʃən/

3 meanings of ocean

1
great seanouncountable
The salt water covering most of Earth, or one of its main parts, such as the Pacific.
The ocean was calm and blue on the morning we left the harbor.
Many strange animals live in the deepest parts of the ocean.
UsageSay the Pacific Ocean, with the.
Similarsea
2
vast amountnounfigurativelycountable or uncountable
A very large amount of something, so big that it seems to have no end.
She faced an ocean of paperwork after her long vacation.
The desert stretched out as an ocean of sand in every direction.
UsageSay an ocean of work for a huge amount.
Similarsea, flood, torrent
Note
3
blue colornouncountable or uncountable
A blue color, like the color of the sea.
The sweater comes in ocean, white, and gray.
We painted the bathroom walls ocean to match the blue towels.

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It came through Old French from Latin Oceanus, which came from Greek, where Okeanos was a water god.

Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

Ocean came through Old French from Latin Oceanus, which came from Greek. en.wiktionary.org
Okeanos was a Greek water god. en.wiktionary.org