What is "dry dock"

Dock \Dock\, n. [Akin to D. dok; of uncertain origin; cf. LL. doga ditch, L. doga ditch, L. doga sort of vessel, Gr. ? receptacle, fr. ? to receive.]

1. An artificial basin or an inclosure in connection with a harbor or river, -- used for the reception of vessels, and provided with gates for keeping in or shutting out the tide.

2. The slip or water way extending between two piers or projecting wharves, for the reception of ships; -- sometimes including the piers themselves; as, to be down on the dock.

3. The place in court where a criminal or accused person stands.

   Balance dock, a kind of floating dock which is kept level by pumping water out of, or letting it into, the compartments of side chambers.

   Dry dock, a dock from which the water may be shut or pumped out, especially, one in the form of a chamber having walls and floor, often of masonry and communicating with deep water, but having appliances for excluding it; -- used in constructing or repairing ships. The name includes structures used for the examination, repairing, or building of vessels, as graving docks, floating docks, hydraulic docks, etc.

   Floating dock, a dock which is made to become buoyant, and, by floating, to lift a vessel out of water.

   Graving dock, a dock for holding a ship for graving or cleaning the bottom, etc.

   Hydraulic dock, a dock in which a vessel is raised clear of the water by hydraulic presses.

   Naval dock, a dock connected with which are naval stores, materials, and all conveniences for the construction and repair of ships.

   Sectional dock, a form of floating dock made in separate sections or caissons.

   Slip dock, a dock having a sloping floor that extends from deep water to above high-water mark, and upon which is a railway on which runs a cradle carrying the ship.

   Wet dock, a dock where the water is shut in, and kept at a given level, to facilitate the loading and unloading of ships; -- also sometimes used as a place of safety; a basin.

Dry \Dry\ (dr[imac]), a. [Compar. Drier; superl. Driest.] [OE. dru[yogh]e, druye, drie, AS. dryge; akin to LG. dr["o]ge, D. droog, OHG. trucchan, G. trocken, Icel. draugr a dry log. Cf. Drought, Drouth, 3d Drug.]

1. Free from moisture; having little humidity or none; arid; not wet or moist; deficient in the natural or normal supply of moisture, as rain or fluid of any kind; -- said especially:

   1. Of the weather: Free from rain or mist.

      The weather, we agreed, was too dry for the season.
      --Addison.

   2. Of vegetable matter: Free from juices or sap; not succulent; not green; as, dry wood or hay.

   3. Of animals: Not giving milk; as, the cow is dry.

   4. Of persons: Thirsty; needing drink.

      Give the dry fool drink. -- Shak

   5. Of the eyes: Not shedding tears.

      Not a dry eye was to be seen in the assembly. -- Prescott.

   6. (Med.) Of certain morbid conditions, in which there is entire or comparative absence of moisture; as, dry gangrene; dry catarrh.

2. Destitute of that which interests or amuses; barren; unembellished; jejune; plain.

   These epistles will become less dry, more susceptible of ornament.
   --Pope.

3. Characterized by a quality somewhat severe, grave, or hard; hence, sharp; keen; shrewd; quaint; as, a dry tone or manner; dry wit.

   He was rather a dry, shrewd kind of body.
   --W. Irving.

4. (Fine Arts) Exhibiting a sharp, frigid preciseness of execution, or the want of a delicate contour in form, and of easy transition in coloring. Dry area (Arch.), a small open space reserved outside the foundation of a building to guard it from damp. Dry blow.

   1. (Med.) A blow which inflicts no wound, and causes no effusion of blood.

   2. A quick, sharp blow. Dry bone (Min.), Smithsonite, or carbonate of zinc; -- a miner's term. Dry castor (Zo["o]l.) a kind of beaver; -- called also parchment beaver. Dry cupping. (Med.) See under Cupping. Dry dock. See under Dock. Dry fat. See Dry vat (below). Dry light, pure unobstructed light; hence, a clear, impartial view. --Bacon. The scientific man must keep his feelings under stern control, lest they obtrude into his researches, and color the dry light in which alone science desires to see its objects. -- J. C. Shairp. Dry masonry. See Masonry. Dry measure, a system of measures of volume for dry or coarse articles, by the bushel, peck, etc. Dry pile (Physics), a form of the Voltaic pile, constructed without the use of a liquid, affording a feeble current, and chiefly useful in the construction of electroscopes of great delicacy; -- called also Zamboni's, from the names of the two earliest constructors of it. Dry pipe (Steam Engine), a pipe which conducts dry steam from a boiler. Dry plate (Photog.), a glass plate having a dry coating sensitive to light, upon which photographic negatives or pictures can be made, without moistening. Dry-plate process, the process of photographing with dry plates. Dry point. (Fine Arts)

      1. An engraving made with the needle instead of the burin, in which the work is done nearly as in etching, but is finished without the use acid.

      2. A print from such an engraving, usually upon paper.

   3. Hence: The needle with which such an engraving is made.

      Dry rent (Eng. Law), a rent reserved by deed, without a clause of distress.
      --Bouvier.

      Dry rot, a decay of timber, reducing its fibers to the condition of a dry powdery dust, often accompanied by the presence of a peculiar fungus ( Merulius lacrymans), which is sometimes considered the cause of the decay; but it is more probable that the real cause is the decomposition of the wood itself.
      --D. C. Eaton. Called also sap rot, and, in the United States, powder post.
      --Hebert.

      Dry stove, a hothouse adapted to preserving the plants of arid climates.
      --Brande & C.

      Dry vat, a vat, basket, or other receptacle for dry articles.

      Dry wine, that in which the saccharine matter and fermentation were so exactly balanced, that they have wholly neutralized each other, and no sweetness is perceptible; -- opposed to sweet wine, in which the saccharine matter is in excess.

Dry dock \Dry" dock`\ (Naut.) See under Dock.

n. (alternative spelling of drydock English)

n. a large dock from which water can be pumped out; used for building ships or for repairing a ship below its waterline [syn: drydock, graving dock]

A dry dock (sometimes dry-dock or drydock) is a narrow basin or vessel that can be flooded to allow a load to be floated in, then drained to allow that load to come to rest on a dry platform. Dry docks are used for the construction, maintenance, and repair of ships, boats, and other watercraft.