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lifeboat

/ˌlaɪfˈboʊt/
/ˈlaɪfbəʊt/
IPA guide

Other forms: lifeboats

A lifeboat is a small boat that's kept on a bigger ship in case of emergency. It’s much more fun than a deathboat. Large ships usually have enough lifeboats for every passenger on board. Hear that, Titanic?

When the giant ship Titanic sank, there weren’t enough lifeboats for everyone. If you’re on a ship that’s going down, a lifeboat (one word) could save your life. Some lifeboats are made of hard materials like fiberglass, while others are inflatable. Another kind of lifeboat is launched from shore or a Coast Guard ship to rescue people who need help at sea, if, for example, they're on a sinking fishing boat.

Definitions of lifeboat
  1. noun
    a strong sea boat designed to rescue people from a sinking ship
    see moresee less
    type of:
    sea boat
    a boat that is seaworthy; that is adapted to the open seas
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