Definition of "dry dock" [dry• dock]

• A large dock in the form of a basin from which the water can be emptied, used for building or repairing a ship below its water line. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "That night, the battle cruiser was moved out of dry dock to a coaling jetty."
• "By Friday, some of the ships would be in dry dock for overhaul, others tied to quays for lesser repairs."
• "Already, the dreadnought Bellerophon of the 4th Battle Squadron had been detached and was on her way to Gibraltar to refit in the dry dock there."