deck
gb/dˈɛk/ us/dˈɛk/
A2
English
~ 4400
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Floor or platform on a ship or vehicle
A flat floor area on a ship, bus, or big vehicle.
Usage pattern:
on the [upper/lower] deck
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'deck' with 'dock'; 'dock' is where ships are tied up at shore, while 'deck' is part of the ship itself.
Synonyms
floor (General term for the surface you walk on in a building or vehicle.)
Antonyms
ceiling (The surface above you inside a structure, opposite of the floor.)
Collocations
upper deck
|lower deck
|main deck
|deck crew
|deck chair
Themes
transport
|travel
|transportation
Examples
- Passengers gathered on the upper deck to watch the sunset.
- The crew cleaned the main deck before we set sail.
- We sat on the open deck during the ferry ride.
Learner examples
- We went to the top deck of the bus.
- The sailors worked on the deck.
- I saw dolphins from the ship's deck.
Noun
A2
entity
2
Flat outdoor floor attached to a house
A flat area outside a house, often made of wood, for sitting or eating.
Usage pattern:
sit on the deck
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'deck' with 'porch'; porches are usually covered and attached to the front of a house.
Synonyms
patio (Usually paved with stone or concrete rather than wood.)
Antonyms
yard (An open ground area without a raised platform.)
Collocations
wooden deck
|backyard deck
|deck furniture
Themes
home
|daily life
|housing
|daily_life
Examples
- They had breakfast on the back deck.
- We added a new deck to our house last summer.
- The deck needs to be painted before winter.
Learner examples
- We eat dinner on the deck in summer.
- The deck is behind the house.
- He built a small deck by himself.
Noun
A2
entity
3
Complete set of playing cards
All the playing cards needed for a game.
Usage pattern:
a deck of cards
Common mistake:
Some learners say 'pile of cards' instead of 'deck of cards' for games.
Synonyms
pack (British English term for a complete set of playing cards.)
Antonyms
single card (One card as opposed to the whole set.)
Collocations
shuffle the deck
|new deck
|full deck
Themes
games
|leisure
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He shuffled the deck before dealing.
- We bought a new deck for poker night.
- The magician used a special trick deck.
Learner examples
- I have a new deck of cards.
- She shuffled the deck quickly.
- We played with an old deck.
Verb
informal
B1
action
4
Knock someone down by hitting them
To hit someone very hard so they fall down.
Usage pattern:
to deck [someone]
Common mistake:
'Deck' in this sense is informal; learners sometimes use it in formal writing where 'hit' or 'knock down' would be better.
Synonyms
knock down (More general; can be accidental or intentional.)
Antonyms
help up (To assist someone in standing after they have fallen.)
Collocations
decked him with one punch
Themes
violence
|sports
|body
Examples
- The boxer decked his opponent in the first round.
- He was so angry he nearly decked the guy.
- She got decked during the street fight.
Learner examples
- The boxer decked his rival.
- He decked the man after an argument.
- She was decked in the fight.
Verb
B1
action
5
Decorate for celebration or event
To make something look nice for a party or holiday.
Usage pattern:
to deck [something] with [decorations]
Common mistake:
'Deck out' is often used informally; learners sometimes confuse it with 'decorate' in formal contexts.
Synonyms
adorn ('Adorn' is more formal and literary.)
Antonyms
strip bare (To remove all decoration from something.)
Collocations
decked out in lights
|decked with flowers
Themes
celebrations
|art
|daily_life
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The hall was decked with ribbons and balloons.
- They decked the tree with ornaments.
- The city streets were decked out for the festival.
Learner examples
- We decked the room with balloons.
- The tree was decked with lights.
- They decked the hall for the wedding.
Grammar
Dictionary form
deck
IPA
GB/dˈɛk/
US/dˈɛk/
Syllables & stress
deck (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (deck)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: deck
- Plural: deck, decks
Verb
- Base: deck
- 3rd Person Singular: decks
- Present Participle: decking
- Past: decked
Word family
Forms
decks
noun
decking
verb
decked
verb
Related words
deckchair
noun
deckhand
noun
Expressions
clear the decks
1/klˈɪɹ ðə dˈɛks/
idiom
Prepare for important activity by removing obstacles
To get ready for something important by removing things that are in the way.
Examples
- They cleared the decks before starting the big project.
- Clear the decks—we have work to do.
deck out
1/dˈɛk ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
informal
Decorate or dress impressively
To make something look very nice by decorating it or dressing it up.
Examples
- They decked out the hall for the ceremony.
- She was decked out in her finest dress.
full deck
1/fˈʊl dˈɛk/
fixed phrase
informal
Complete set of cards or abilities
Having all parts needed; sometimes used humorously to mean mentally normal.
Examples
- He’s not playing with a full deck.
- Make sure you have a full deck before starting.
hit the deck
1/hˈɪt ðə dˈɛk/
idiom
informal
Drop to ground quickly for safety/readiness
To fall or lie down quickly, usually to avoid danger.
Examples
- Hit the deck! There’s incoming fire!
- Everyone hit the deck when they heard the explosion.
stack the deck
1/stˈæk ðə dˈɛk/
idiom
to arrange things unfairly
To arrange a situation in a secret or unfair way so that one person or group will win or get an advantage.
Examples
- The rules stacked the deck against smaller companies.
- The organizers stacked the deck by inviting only friendly journalists.
- They stacked the deck to ensure their team won.
- If you stack the deck, of course you're going to win.
- Critics say the new rules stack the deck against small businesses.