lifeboat
A lifeboat is a special boat used to save people from a sinking ship or in emergency situations. It's like a rescue vehicle on water.
When you think of a lifeboat, chances are you imagine it coming to the aid of people stranded at sea after a big storm has hit their ship. But lifeboats can also be part of everyday safety protocols on cruise ships and ferries, used for routine drills and procedures in case of emergencies. Sometimes, they're even used as a way to transport passengers between a ship and a nearby island or harbor when the main vessel is too big to dock directly.
How common is "lifeboat"?
It appears most frequently in fiction texts and less often in other writings.
noun
(nautical) A boat especially designed for saving the lives of shipwrecked people or people in distress at sea (either launched from the shore with a crew, or else carried on board a larger ship).
Real examples of "lifeboat" in context
