a very large stretch of sea, esp one of the five oceans of the world, the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, and Antarctic the body of salt water covering approximately 70 per cent of the earth's surface a huge quantity or expanse: an ocean of replies the sea
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
o•cean /ˈoʊʃən/USA pronunciation
n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Oceanography[uncountable* the + ~] the vast body of salt water that covers almost three-fourths of the earth's surface.
- Oceanography[countable] any of the divisions of this body, commonly known as the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Indian, the Arctic, and the Antarctic oceans.
- a vast quantity:[countable]oceans of tears.
o•cean
(ō′shən),USA pronunciation n.
o′cean•like′, adj.
- Oceanographythe vast body of salt water that covers almost three fourths of the earth's surface.
- Oceanographyany of the geographical divisions of this body, commonly given as the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, and Antarctic oceans.
- a vast expanse or quantity:an ocean of grass.
- Greek ōkeanós, Ōkeanós
- Latin ōceanus, special use of Ōceanus Oceanus
- Old French)
- Middle English ocean(e) (1250–1300
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'ocean floor' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):