navy — a country's armed forces that operate at sea
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a country's armed forces that operate at sea
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈneɪvi/
Example Sentences
- My grandfather's navy stories always involve mysterious sea monsters and terrible cooking.
- She chose navy pants because they hide coffee stains better than white ones.
- The navy is responsible for protecting the country's territorial waters.
navy
NOUN[/ˈneɪvi/]
a country's armed forces that operate at sea
Naval forces protecting the seas
The navy escorted merchant ships through dangerous waters. (SEA + MILITARY = NAVY)
The navy chef serves wavy gravy on the wavy sea!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Old French 'navie', which comes from Latin 'navis' meaning 'ship'. It originally referred to a fleet of ships and the military force that operated them, later extending to mean a nation's entire sea-going military organization. The color sense (dark blue) arose secondarily from the typical color of naval uniforms.
Breakdown
Latin 'navis' (ship) → Old French 'navie' → English 'navy'. The suffix '-y' in the final English form derives from French nominal formation, transforming the noun into an abstract collective sense.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandfather's navy stories always involve mysterious sea monsters and terrible cooking.”
“She chose navy pants because they hide coffee stains better than white ones.”
“The navy is responsible for protecting the country's territorial waters.”
“Navy blue is considered a versatile color for business attire.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.