noun · verb · 8 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
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈstɑː.bəd/
Canada, General-American:/ˈstɑɹ.bɚd/
Australian:/ˈstaː.bəd/
General-American:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:S T AA1 R B ER0 D
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The righthand side of a ship, boat or aircraft when facing the front, or fore or bow. Used to unambiguously refer to directions according to the sides of the vessel, rather than those of a crew member or object.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
I see another vessel off the starboard side.
We're on starboard tack, so the other boat has to give way.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: right
Antonyms: port, backboard, larboard, leeboard, left
2
noun
Meaning 2
One of the two traditional watches aboard a ship standing a watch in two.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A list that shows messages starred in a community space.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: social media
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A system that enables such a list.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
Qualifier: social media
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To put to the right, or starboard, side of a vessel.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Topics: nautical, transport
Examples
to starboard the helm
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
adjective satellite
Meaning 6
located on the right side of a ship or aircraft
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
the right side of a ship or aircraft to someone who is aboard and facing the bow or nose
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: larboard
Broader terms: side
8
verb
Meaning 8
turn to the right, of helms or rudders
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
From Middle English sterbord, stere-bourd, stere-burd, from Old English stēorbord, from Proto-West Germanic *steurubord, equivalent to steer + board (“side (of a ship)”), referring to ancient ships with the steering oar set to the right (to accommodate right-handed crew). Ships had to dock on their left (port) side because the steering oar on the right would get in the way, which is how the left became known as the port side.
From star + board. The earliest known use was in 2013 on Meta Stack Exchange.
Across languages
Translations
43 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
щи́рборд
(štírbord)
— right hand side of a vessel
Bulgarian:
щирбо́рд
(štirbórd)
— right hand side of a vessel
Catalan:
estribord
— right hand side of a vessel
Chinese Mandarin:
右舷
(yòuxián)
— right hand side of a vessel
Czech:
pravobok
— right hand side of a vessel
Danish:
styrbord
— right hand side of a vessel
Dutch:
stuurboord
— right hand side of a vessel
Erzya:
витьвенчире
(viťvenčire)
— right hand side of a vessel
Esperanto:
tribordo
— right hand side of a vessel
Finnish:
tyyrpuuri
— right hand side of a vessel
Finnish:
styyrpuuri
— right hand side of a vessel
French:
tribord
— right hand side of a vessel
Georgian:
მარჯვენა ქიმი
(marǯvena kimi)
— right hand side of a vessel
Georgian:
მარჯვენა ბორტი
(marǯvena borṭi)
— right hand side of a vessel
German:
Steuerbord
— right hand side of a vessel
Greek:
δεξιά πλευρά πλοίου
(dexiá plevrá ploíou)
— right hand side of a vessel
Icelandic:
stjórnborði
— right hand side of a vessel
Irish:
deasbhord
— right hand side of a vessel
Italian:
tribordo
— right hand side of a vessel
Italian:
dritta
— right hand side of a vessel
Japanese:
右舷
(ugen)
— right hand side of a vessel
Korean:
우현
(uhyeon)
— right hand side of a vessel
Māori:
matau
— right hand side of a vessel
Norman:
tribord
— right hand side of a vessel
Norwegian Bokmål:
styrbord
— right hand side of a vessel
Norwegian Nynorsk:
styrbord
— right hand side of a vessel
Polish:
sterburta
— right hand side of a vessel
Portuguese:
boreste
— right hand side of a vessel
Portuguese:
estibordo
— right hand side of a vessel
Romanian:
tribord
— right hand side of a vessel
Russian:
пра́вый борт
(právyj bort)
— right hand side of a vessel
Scottish Gaelic:
bòrd-beulaibh
— right hand side of a vessel
Spanish:
estribor
— right hand side of a vessel
Swedish:
styrbord
— right hand side of a vessel
Tagalog:
estribor
— right hand side of a vessel
Turkish:
sancak
— right hand side of a vessel
Ottoman Turkish:
سنجاق
(sancak)
— right hand side of a vessel
Welsh:
starbord
— right hand side of a vessel
Yiddish:
רעכטער באָרט
(rekhter bort)
— right hand side of a vessel
Māori:
hao
— to put to the right
Polish:
skręcać ster w prawo
— to put to the right
Polish:
skręcić ster w prawo
— to put to the right
