A
dock (from
Dutch dok) is either the area of water between or next to a human-made
structure or group of structures involved in the handling of boats or ships, usually on or close to a
shore, or the structures themselves. The exact meaning varies among different variants of the English language. "Dock" may also refer to a
dockyard or
shipyard where the loading, unloading, building, or repairing of ships occurs.