Phrase guide

moon pool

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

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.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈmuːnpuːl/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ˈmunˌpul/

1

noun

Meaning 1

An opening in the base of the hull of a vessel (especially a marine drilling platform), which is used for lowering equipment into the sea below.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: chiefly oil industry

Topics: nautical, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From moon + pool, from the fact that, on some nights, moonlight can be seen reflected by the surface of the sea through the opening, making it resemble a swimming pool.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: moonpool — opening in the base of the hull of a vessel, which is used for lowering equipment into the sea below
  • French: puits central — opening in the base of the hull of a vessel, which is used for lowering equipment into the sea below
  • German: Moonpool — opening in the base of the hull of a vessel, which is used for lowering equipment into the sea below
  • Japanese: ムーンプール — opening in the base of the hull of a vessel, which is used for lowering equipment into the sea below
  • Swedish: månbassäng — opening in the base of the hull of a vessel, which is used for lowering equipment into the sea below