name
Meaning 1
A surname.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
coffer
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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Received-Pronunciation: /ˈkɒfə/
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US: /ˈkɔfɚ/
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US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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cot-caught-merger: /ˈkɑfɚ/
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homophone: cougher
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rhymes with -ɒfə(ɹ)
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CMU ARPABET: K AO1 F ER0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
noun
Meaning 2
A strong chest or box used for keeping money or valuables safe.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: strongbox
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 3
An ornamental sunken panel in a ceiling or dome.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: architecture
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: caisson
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 4
A temporary watertight structure used during underwater construction of bridges, causeways, ships, etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: cofferdam, caisson
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 5
A supply or store of money, often belonging to an organization.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- c. 1610–1620 (written), 1661 (first published), Francis Bacon, Letter of Advice to the Duke of Buckingham He would discharge it without any great burden to the queen's coffers.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 6
A trench dug in the bottom of a dry moat, and extending across it, to enable the besieged to defend it with raking fire.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 7
To put money or valuables in a coffer.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 8
To decorate something, especially a ceiling, with coffers.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 9
To panel, frame, or border with a raised protective trim.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 10
a chest especially for storing valuables
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: chest
noun
Meaning 11
an ornamental sunken panel in a ceiling or dome
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: caisson, lacuna
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: panel
History
Etymology
From Middle English cofre, coffre, from Old French cofre, coffre, from Latin cophinus (“basket”), from Ancient Greek κόφινος (kóphinos, “basket”). Doublet of coffin. Cognate with German Koffer (“a suitcase”).
Across languages
Translations
78 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Arabic: خَزْنَة حَدِيدِيَّة (ḵazna ḥadīdiyya) — strongbox
- Arabic: خَزْنَة (ḵazna) — strongbox
- Arabic: خزانة (ḵazāna) — strongbox
- Arabic: تجوري (tijūri) — strongbox
- Arabic: خزانة (ḵazāne) — strongbox
- Bashkir: һандыҡ (handıq) — strongbox
- Bulgarian: каса (kasa) — strongbox
- Bulgarian: сейф (sejf) — strongbox
- Catalan: cofre — strongbox
- Chinese Mandarin: 保險箱 /保险箱 (bǎoxiǎnxiāng) — strongbox
- Czech: kasa — strongbox
- Czech: pokladna — strongbox
- Dutch: koffer — strongbox
- Finnish: kassa-arkku — strongbox
- Finnish: kassalipas — strongbox
- French: coffre — strongbox
- Galician: cofre — strongbox
- German: Kassette — strongbox
- German: Geldkassette — strongbox
- German: Tresor — strongbox
- German: Schatztruhe — strongbox
- German: Truhe — strongbox
- German: Kiste — strongbox
- German: Kasten — strongbox
- Greek: σεντούκι (sentoúki) — strongbox
- Greek: κασέλα (kaséla) — strongbox
- Greek: μπαούλο (baoúlo) — strongbox
- Greek: χρηματοκιβώτιο (chrimatokivótio) — strongbox
- Ancient Greek: χηλός (khēlós) — strongbox
- Ancient Greek: ῥίσκος (rhískos) — strongbox
- Hindi: कोषागार (koṣāgār) — strongbox
- Italian: cofano — strongbox
- Italian: cofanetto — strongbox
- Italian: scrigno — strongbox
- Italian: forziere — strongbox
- Northern Kurdish: sindoq — strongbox
- Latin: arca — strongbox
- Middle English: coffyn — strongbox
- Middle English: cofre — strongbox
- Polish: szkatuła — strongbox
- Polish: szkatułka — strongbox
- Portuguese: cofre — strongbox
- Russian: сунду́к (sundúk) — strongbox
- Russian: сейф (sejf) — strongbox
- Spanish: cofre — strongbox
- Turkish: sandık — strongbox
- Turkish: kutu — strongbox
- Turkish: kasa — strongbox
- Ottoman Turkish: صندوق (sanduk, sandık) — strongbox
- Bulgarian: касе́та (kaséta) — architecture: ornamental sunken panel
- Catalan: cassetó — architecture: ornamental sunken panel
- Czech: kazeta — architecture: ornamental sunken panel
- Danish: kassette — architecture: ornamental sunken panel
- Dutch: cassette — architecture: ornamental sunken panel
- Finnish: kasetti — architecture: ornamental sunken panel
- French: caisson — architecture: ornamental sunken panel
- Galician: casetón — architecture: ornamental sunken panel
- Galician: artesón — architecture: ornamental sunken panel
- German: Kassetten — architecture: ornamental sunken panel
- German: Kassette — architecture: ornamental sunken panel
- Ancient Greek: καλαθίσκος (kalathískos) — architecture: ornamental sunken panel
- Hungarian: kazetta — architecture: ornamental sunken panel
- Italian: cassettone — architecture: ornamental sunken panel
- Polish: kaseton — architecture: ornamental sunken panel
- Portuguese: caixotão — architecture: ornamental sunken panel
- Spanish: casetón — architecture: ornamental sunken panel
- Swedish: kassett — architecture: ornamental sunken panel
- Bulgarian: хазна (hazna) — supply or store of money
- Catalan: arques — supply or store of money
- Czech: kasa — supply or store of money
- Finnish: kassa — supply or store of money
- German: Kasse — supply or store of money
- Greek: ταμείο (tameío) — supply or store of money
- Greek: κορβανάς (korvanás) — supply or store of money
- Ido: kaso — supply or store of money
- Middle English: cofre — supply or store of money
- Russian: казна́ (kazná) — supply or store of money
- Spanish: arcas — supply or store of money
Real reading context