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ship

/ˈʃɪp/
nounverb

SHIP meaning: a water-borne vessel generally larger than a boat; it scores 9 Scrabble points and has three anagrams.

NWL Collins ENABLE

Noun 4 meanings

  1. A water-borne vessel generally larger than a boat.

  2. A vessel which travels through any medium other than across land, such as an airship or spaceship.

  3. A spaceship.

  4. A particular still life consisting of an empty cell surrounded by six live cells.

Verb 4 meanings

  1. To send by water-borne transport.

  2. To send (a parcel or container) to a recipient (by any means of transport).

    “to ship freight by railroad”

  3. To release (a product, not necessarily physical) to vendors or customers; to launch.

    “Our next issue ships early next year.”

  4. To engage to serve on board a vessel.

    “to ship seamen”

Definitions: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA) via Kaikki/Wiktextract

Where it comes from

Etymology

From Middle English chip, schepe, schip, schup, scip, scippe, ship, shup, ssip, from Old English sċip, sċyp, from Proto-West Germanic *skip, from Proto-Germanic *skipą (“ship; tub, vessel”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *skey- (“to split”). More at shift.

Similar and opposite words

Similar
keel

SHIP is a familiar four-letter noun, but its definitions reach beyond cargo vessels. The core meaning describes a water-borne vessel larger than a boat; the entry also includes airships, spaceships, and an unexpected cellular-pattern sense. For word games, the practical details are compact: a 9-point Scrabble total, three anagrams, and 10 one-letter neighbours.

SHIP at a glance

  • SHIP is a common four-letter noun for a water-borne vessel, usually larger than a boat.
  • Its Scrabble tiles are S 1, H 4, I 1, and P 3, for 9 points before board bonuses.
  • Rearrange SHIP to make HIPS, PISH, or PHIS; there are 3 anagrams.
  • Swap one letter and the 10 neighbours include SHOP, CHIP, SLIP, and SKIP.

What does SHIP mean?

The central sense is a water-borne vessel generally larger than a boat. The definition also reaches beyond water: an airship or spaceship travels through a medium other than across land, and spaceship appears as a separate sense. SHIP therefore has a broader reach than its everyday nautical use.

A less expected definition is a particular still life: one empty cell surrounded by six live cells. That cellular-pattern meaning sits far from the vessel sense, so context matters. In ordinary writing, SHIP usually points to transport; in a puzzle or technical discussion, the surrounding subject can change the intended reading.

How many points does SHIP score?

SHIP is worth 9 Scrabble points from its four tiles: S contributes 1, H 4, I 1, and P 3. H accounts for 4 of the 9 base points, making it the tile to place on a letter premium when the board allows. A word premium multiplies the word total, so the square matters as much as the letters.

The SHIP meaning is separate from its Scrabble value: the same four letters also form HIPS, PISH, and PHIS. HIPS is the familiar plural, while PISH and PHIS are less obvious rearrangements. For a quicker board search, compare one-letter neighbours: SHOP, CHIP, SLIP, SKIP, WHIP, SHIN, SHIV, SNIP, SHIM, and SHIR.

Rhymes with ship

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One letter away

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Questions people ask

Is SHIP a valid Scrabble word?
Yes, SHIP is recognized in Collins, NWL2023, and ENABLE. It is a familiar four-letter word meaning a vessel, and it scores 9 points from S, H, I, and P before any board premiums. Check your game's word list if you are playing with a different dictionary.
What words can you make from the letters in SHIP?
The three anagrams of SHIP are HIPS, PISH, and PHIS. HIPS is the most familiar rearrangement; PISH and PHIS are less obvious. Each uses the same four letters, so you can test those combinations when a rack or word puzzle gives you S, H, I, and P.
What is the highest-value letter in SHIP?
H is SHIP's highest-value tile at 4 Scrabble points. P adds 3, while S and I add 1 each, bringing the word's base total to 9. A letter-premium square under H raises that tile's contribution, while a word-premium square multiplies the full word score.

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