# vessel

Pronunciation: say "VES-uhl" /ˈvɛs.əl/

## Noun

1. A craft built for carrying people or goods, especially a ship or large boat on or under water; also, by extension, an aircraft or spacecraft.
   - Simple: A ship or large boat, or sometimes a spaceship or aircraft, that carries people or things.
   - _The cargo vessel carried thousands of containers across the Pacific._
   - _Naval vessels patrolled the coastline through the night._
2. A duct or canal carrying fluid within the body of an animal or plant.
   - Simple: A thin tube that carries blood or other fluid inside a body or a plant.
   - _The surgeon repaired a damaged vessel near the heart._
   - _In plants, vessels move water from the roots to the leaves._
3. A receptacle that holds a liquid or other substance, for example a cup, glass, goblet, bowl, bottle, or pitcher.
   - Simple: A container, like a cup, bowl, or bottle, that holds liquid or other things.
   - _The museum displayed bronze vessels used for serving wine._
   - _He filled the vessel with fresh water from the well._
4. A person regarded as a container or carrier of qualities or feelings.
   - Simple: A person thought of as holding or carrying feelings, qualities, or a purpose.
   - _The prophet saw himself as a vessel of divine will._
   - _Each of us can be a vessel for kindness toward others._

## Verb

5. To place a liquid or other substance into a container. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To put a liquid or other substance into a container.

## Noun

6. Dishes and cutlery considered together, especially when made of precious metals. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Plates, cups, and forks taken together, especially ones made of gold or silver.

## Origin

Inherited through Middle English vessel ("small container") from Old French vaissel, from Late Latin vāscellum, a diminutive of vāsculum, itself a diminutive of vās ("vase, vessel").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/vessel (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).