navy
Definitions
A country's military force that fights at sea; the fleet of warships and its personnel.
海军；一国的海上军事力量及其舰队。
A very dark blue color (short for navy blue).
藏青色，深蓝色（navy blue 的简称）。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivednav (ship, from Latin nāvis) + -y (collective) = a collection of ships. A navy is literally a fleet — a nation's gathering of warships. The color sense comes later: 'navy blue' was the dark blue of British naval uniforms, and the name stuck even outside the military.
Root nav still carries 17 more wordsWhy It Means This
Why does one word mean both 'sea force' and 'dark blue'? Because British sailors wore deep-blue uniforms, and that exact shade became known as 'navy blue' — eventually just 'navy.' The military and the color share one origin: the ships.
Common Collocations
- 1.join the navy参加海军
- 2.serve in the navy在海军服役
- 3.the Royal Navy皇家海军
- 4.navy blue藏青色
Example Sentences
- 1.
He joined the navy at eighteen and served for ten years.
- 2.
The two countries' navies held a joint exercise in the Pacific.
- 3.
She wore a navy suit with a white shirt to the interview.