Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Dock \Dock\, n. [Akin to D. dok; of uncertain origin; cf. LL.
   doga ditch, L. doga ditch, L. doga sort of vessel, Gr. ?
   receptacle, fr. ? to receive.]
   1. An artificial basin or an inclosure in connection with a
      harbor or river, -- used for the reception of vessels, and
      provided with gates for keeping in or shutting out the
      tide.

   2. The slip or water way extending between two piers or
      projecting wharves, for the reception of ships; --
      sometimes including the piers themselves; as, to be down
      on the dock.

   3. The place in court where a criminal or accused person
      stands.

   {Balance dock}, a kind of {floating dock} which is kept level
      by pumping water out of, or letting it into, the
      compartments of side chambers.

   {Dry dock}, a dock from which the water may be shut or pumped
      out, especially, one in the form of a chamber having walls
      and floor, often of masonry and communicating with deep
      water, but having appliances for excluding it; -- used in
      constructing or repairing ships. The name includes
      structures used for the examination, repairing, or
      building of vessels, as graving docks, floating docks,
      hydraulic docks, etc.

   {Floating dock}, a dock which is made to become buoyant, and,
      by floating, to lift a vessel out of water.

   {Graving dock}, a dock for holding a ship for graving or
      cleaning the bottom, etc.

   {Hydraulic dock}, a dock in which a vessel is raised clear of
      the water by hydraulic presses.

   {Naval dock}, a dock connected with which are naval stores,
      materials, and all conveniences for the construction and
      repair of ships.

   {Sectional dock}, a form of {floating dock} made in separate
      sections or caissons.

   {Slip dock}, a dock having a sloping floor that extends from
      deep water to above high-water mark, and upon which is a
      railway on which runs a cradle carrying the ship.

   {Wet dock}, a dock where the water is shut in, and kept at a
      given level, to facilitate the loading and unloading of
      ships; -- also sometimes used as a place of safety; a
      basin.

Floating \Float"ing\, a.
   1. Buoyed upon or in a fluid; a, the floating timbers of a
      wreck; floating motes in the air.

   2. Free or lose from the usual attachment; as, the floating
      ribs in man and some other animals.

   3. Not funded; not fixed, invested, or determined; as,
      floating capital; a floating debt.

            Trade was at an end. Floating capital had been
            withdrawn in great masses from the island.
                                                  --Macaulay.

   {Floating anchor} (Naut.), a drag or sea anchor; drag sail.
      

   {Floating battery} (Mil.), a battery erected on rafts or the
      hulls of ships, chiefly for the defense of a coast or the
      bombardment of a place.

   {Floating bridge}.
      (a) A bridge consisting of rafts or timber, with a floor
          of plank, supported wholly by the water; a bateau
          bridge. See {Bateau}.
      (b) (Mil.) A kind of double bridge, the upper one
          projecting beyond the lower one, and capable of being
          moved forward by pulleys; -- used for carrying troops
          over narrow moats in attacking the outworks of a fort.
      (c) A kind of ferryboat which is guided and impelled by
          means of chains which are anchored on each side of a
          stream, and pass over wheels on the vessel, the wheels
          being driven by stream power.
      (d) The landing platform of a ferry dock.

   {Floating cartilage} (Med.), a cartilage which moves freely
      in the cavity of a joint, and often interferes with the
      functions of the latter.

   {Floating dam}.
      (a) An anchored dam.
      (b) A caisson used as a gate for a dry dock.

   {Floating derrick}, a derrick on a float for river and harbor
      use, in raising vessels, moving stone for harbor
      improvements, etc.

   {Floating dock}. (Naut.) See under {Dock}.

   {Floating harbor}, a breakwater of cages or booms, anchored
      and fastened together, and used as a protection to ships
      riding at anchor to leeward. --Knight.

   {Floating heart} (Bot.), a small aquatic plant ({Limnanthemum
      lacunosum}) whose heart-shaped leaves float on the water
      of American ponds.

   {Floating island}, a dish for dessert, consisting of custard
      with floating masses of whipped cream or white of eggs.

   {Floating kidney}. (Med.) See {Wandering kidney}, under
      {Wandering}.

   {Floating light}, a light shown at the masthead of a vessel
      moored over sunken rocks, shoals, etc., to warn mariners
      of danger; a light-ship; also, a light erected on a buoy
      or floating stage.

   {Floating liver}. (Med.) See {Wandering liver}, under
      {Wandering}.

   {Floating pier}, a landing stage or pier which rises and
      falls with the tide.

   {Floating ribs} (Anat.), the lower or posterior ribs which
      are not connected with the others in front; in man they
      are the last two pairs.

   {Floating screed} (Plastering), a strip of plastering first
      laid on, to serve as a guide for the thickness of the
      coat.

   {Floating threads} (Weaving), threads which span several
      other threads without being interwoven with them, in a
      woven fabric.

Source : WordNet®

floating dock
     n : dry dock that can be submerged under a vessel and then
         raised [syn: {floating dry dock}]