dock

In botany, any of a number of plants belonging to the buckwheat family. They are tall, annual or perennial herbs, often with lance-shaped leaves and small greenish flowers. Native to temperate regions, there are 30 North American and several British species. (Genus Rumex, family Polygonaceae.)

dock

A ship awaiting repair, at Falmouth Docks. The great natural harbour at Falmouth was first exploited in the late 17th century. For more than a hundred years, until the early 19th century, the town was a station for the mail packet service, which carried mail to the Americas and the Mediterranean. Today, the docks are still an important centre for ship repairs, but otherwise the town's main industry is tourism.

Dublin docks, the largest in Ireland, are situated at the mouth of the River Liffey. The docks handle hundreds of thousands of tonnes of freight every year. There are also car ferry services from Dublin to Holyhead, Wales, and to Liverpool, England.

Port accommodation for commercial and naval vessels, usually simple linear quayage (wharfs or piers) adaptable to ships of any size, but with specialized equipment for handling bulk cargoes, refrigerated goods, container traffic, and oil tankers.