- marine
- marine adj1 oceanic, thalassic, neritic, pelagic, abyssal, *aquatic, lacustrine, fluvial, fluviatile2 Marine, maritime, nautical, naval are not closely synonymous terms but they are so interrelated that they are sometimes a cause of confusion. Marine and maritime both imply a connection with the sea.Marine is the appropriate term when what is qualified is produced by or is found in the sea or in a body of salt water (for this sense see AQUATIC) or is intended for use at sea{
marine barometer
}{marine chronometer
}or deals with the sea or with vessels that ply the sea or other large bodies of water{marine painting
}{marine engineers
}Marine is sometimes used also when there is an actual or implied reference to seamen{at that time the Marine Board examinations took place at the St. Katherine's Dock House on Tower Hill— Conrad
}{the marine hospital system long maintained by the United States for the care of sick and disabled merchant seamen
}and the term commonly applies to soldiers who serve at sea{the Marine Corps
}Maritime is the appropriate term when the reference is to countries, climates, or peoples on the borders of a sea{the Maritime Provinces of Canada are on its eastern coast
}{maritime races
}or to the navigation of or commerce on the seas{maritime pursuits such as fishing or whaling
}{maritime laws
}{maritime perils
}{in the whole of British genius ... I have estimated the maritime ancestry as 1.9, less than any other class— Ellis
}But maritime and marine are sometimes used interchangeably, especially in reference to law and insurance. Nautical and naval, on the other hand, imply a connection with ships and shipping, and therefore only indirectly with the sea.Nautical, however, is the usual term in applications where a relationship to sailors or seamen or the sailing of ships or boats is distinctly implied{nautical pursuits such as yachting
}{nautical skill
}{a man of nautical interests is never satisfied until he owns some sort of boat
}{nautical clothes
}{no one rows, very few sail. . .; Brighton ... is the least nautical of seaside places— Jefferies
}Nautical is usually the preferred term when reference to the art or profession of navigation is implied{nautical charts
}{nautical tables
}{nautical astronomy
}{a nautical mile
}Naval usually implies reference to a navy as distinguished from a merchant marine and as composed not only of ships, but of men, supplies, and armaments; at times, only from the context can a reader be sure whether ship or naval force is referred to{naval stores
}{a naval architect
}{a naval engagement
}{he belongs to the naval reserve
}
New Dictionary of Synonyms. 2014.
