1.A small open vessel, or water craft, usually moved by cars or paddles, but often by a sail. Note: Different kinds of boats have different names; as, canoe, yawl, wherry, pinnace, punt, etc.
2.Hence, any vessel; usually with some epithet descriptive of its use or mode of propulsion; as, pilot boat, packet boat, passage boat, advice boat, etc. The term is sometimes applied to steam vessels, even of the largest class; as, the Cunard boats.
3.A vehicle, utensil, or dish, somewhat resembling a boat in shape; as, a stone boat; a gravy boat. Note: Boat is much used either adjectively or in combination; as, boat builder or boatbuilder; boat building or boatbuilding; boat hook or boathook; boathouse; boat keeper or boatkeeper; boat load; boat race; boat racing; boat rowing; boat song; boatlike; boat-shaped.