ocean
[ oh-shuh n ]
/ ˈoʊ ʃən /
noun
the vast body of salt water that covers almost three fourths of the earth's surface.
any of the geographical divisions of this body, commonly given as the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, and Antarctic oceans.
a vast expanse or quantity: an ocean of grass.
Origin of ocean
1250–1300; Middle English
ocean(e) (< Old French) < Latin
ōceanus, special use of
Ōceanus
Oceanus < Greek
ōkeanós, Ōkeanós
OTHER WORDS FROM ocean
o·cean·like, adjective in·ter·o·cean, adjectiveWords nearby ocean
Example sentences from the Web for ocean
British Dictionary definitions for ocean
ocean
/ (ˈəʊʃən) /
noun
a very large stretch of sea, esp one of the five oceans of the world, the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, and Antarctic
the body of salt water covering approximately 70 per cent of the earth's surface
a huge quantity or expanse
an ocean of replies
literary
the sea
Word Origin for ocean
C13: via Old French from Latin
ōceanus, from Greek
ōkeanos
Oceanus
Scientific definitions for ocean
ocean
[ ō′shən ]
The continuous body of salt water that covers 72 percent of the Earth's surface. The average salinity of ocean water is approximately three percent. The deepest known area of the ocean, at 11,034 m (36,192 ft) is the Mariana Trench, located in the western Pacific Ocean.
Any of the principal divisions of this body of water, including the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic Oceans.
Usage
The word ocean refers to one of the Earth's four distinct, large areas of salt water, the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic Oceans. The word can also mean the entire network of water that covers almost three quarters of our planet. It comes from the Greek Okeanos, a river believed to circle the globe. The word sea can also mean the vast ocean covering most of the world. But it more commonly refers to large landlocked or almost landlocked salty waters smaller than the great oceans, such as the Mediterranean Sea or the Bering Sea. Sailors have long referred to all the world's waters as the seven seas. Although the origin of this phrase is not known for certain, many people believe it referred to the Red Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Black Sea, the Adriatic Sea, the Caspian Sea, and the Indian Ocean, which were the waters of primary interest to Europeans before Columbus.