Pronunciation: /bɔɪ/

Definitions of buoy

noun a floating object that is anchored in a body of water to mark a location or guide navigation

Example Sentences

A1 The buoy floated in the water.

A2 Sailors rely on buoys to mark safe passage through the harbor.

B1 The buoy bobbed up and down with the waves, guiding the boats to shore.

B2 The buoy's bright colors made it easy to spot from a distance.

C1 The buoy was equipped with a flashing light to warn ships of danger ahead.

C2 The buoy's location was carefully plotted on the nautical chart for navigation purposes.

verb to keep afloat or support by means of a buoy

Example Sentences

A1 The life jacket helped buoy the swimmer up in the water.

A2 The positive feedback from her teacher buoyed her confidence.

B1 The company's latest product launch buoyed their overall sales for the quarter.

B2 The successful completion of the project buoyed the team's morale.

C1 The government's economic policies buoyed the country's GDP growth.

C2 The positive reviews from critics buoyed the artist's reputation in the art world.

Examples of buoy in a Sentence

formal The buoy marked the entrance to the harbor for incoming ships.

informal Make sure to steer clear of that buoy when you're out on the water.

slang I almost crashed into that buoy, it came out of nowhere!

figurative Her positive attitude acted as a buoy during difficult times.

Grammatical Forms of buoy

past tense

buoyed

plural

buoys

comparative

more buoyant

superlative

most buoyant

present tense

buoys

future tense

will buoy

perfect tense

has buoyed

continuous tense

is buoying

singular

buoy

positive degree

buoy

infinitive

to buoy

gerund

buoying

participle

buoyed

Origin and Evolution of buoy

First Known Use: 1300 year
Language of Origin: Middle Dutch
Story behind the word: The word 'buoy' originated from the Middle Dutch word 'boeye' meaning 'sign' or 'beacon'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'buoy' has come to specifically refer to a floating object used as a navigational aid in bodies of water.