Dictionary

ocean

noun, often attributive \ˈō-shən\

: the salt water that covers much of the Earth's surface

: one of the five large areas of salt water that cover much of the Earth's surface

: a very large number or amount of something

Full Definition of OCEAN

1
a :  the whole body of salt water that covers nearly three fourths of the surface of the earth
b :  any of the large bodies of water (as the Atlantic Ocean) into which the great ocean is divided
2
:  a very large or unlimited space or quantity
ADVERTISEMENT

Origin of OCEAN

Middle English occean, from Anglo-French, from Latin oceanus, from Greek Ōkeanos, a river thought of as encircling the earth, ocean
First Known Use: 14th century

Other Oceanography Terms

littoral, sound

Rhymes with OCEAN

OCEAN Defined for Kids

ocean

noun \ˈō-shən\

Definition of OCEAN for Kids

1
:  the whole body of salt water that covers nearly three fourths of the earth
2
:  one of the large bodies of water into which the larger body that covers the earth is divided
ADVERTISEMENT
How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.
Test your vocab with our fun, fast game
Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears