| Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary 1,822,407,231 visitors served. |
|
Dictionary/ thesaurus | Medical dictionary | Legal dictionary | Financial dictionary | Acronyms | Idioms | Encyclopedia | Wikipedia encyclopedia | ? |
shipwreck |
Also found in: Legal, Wikipedia | 0.04 sec. |
|
shipwreck, complete or partial destruction of a vessel as a result of collision, fire, grounding, storm, explosion, or other mishap. In the ancient world sea travel was hazardous, but in modern times the number of shipwrecks due to nonhostile causes has steadily declined. Factors contributing to the decrease are improvements in ship construction, modern methods of navigation, efficient ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communication, more accurate meteorological reports and storm warnings, and the use of radar equipment. The greater size and larger accommodations of present-day vessels, however, involve greater potential loss of life and cargo in each ship disaster. One of the most famous modern sea disasters was the sinking of the Titanic Titanic (tītăn`ĭk), British liner that sank on the night of Apr. ..... Click the link for more information. in 1912. shipwreck 1. the partial or total destruction of a ship at sea 2. a wrecked ship or part of such a ship Shipwreck Spens, Sir Patrick sets sail in a deadly storm, his ship founders, and he is drowned with his crew. [Scot. Balladry: Sir Patrick Spens in Benét, 935] ship bearing the King of Naples and his company is wrecked near Prospero’s island. [Br. Drama: Shakespeare The Tempest] How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
|
| ? Mentioned in | ? References in periodicals archive | |
|---|---|---|
Sinking a cargo ship with an improvised explosive device to block a commercial shipping route--one common scenario--would be difficult owing to modern ship design, and sunken ships even then could be cleared quickly from shipping lanes. In October 2003, after decades of failed deep-sea search operations, the company Odyssey Marine exploration discovered the sunken ship and "King Midas' dream": a field of gold coins strewn across the ocean floor. Suitable for all ages, Wisconsin's Great Lakes Shipwrecks is highly educational, and instructs the user about the role schooners and steamers played in Wisconsin's development, the men and women who once sailed aboard proud vessels, and the means by which divers today unlock and discover the secrets of sunken ships. |
| Encyclopedia |
| Free Tools: |
For surfers:
Free toolbar & extensions |
Word of the Day |
Help
For webmasters: Free content | Linking | Lookup box | Double-click lookup | Partner with us |
|---|