becalm: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowLiterary, Nautical, Formal
Quick answer
What does “becalm” mean?
To make (a sailing vessel) motionless due to lack of wind.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To make (a sailing vessel) motionless due to lack of wind.
To make still, quiet, or calm; to bring to a state of inactivity or tranquility.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, the nautical sense is primary. The extended sense carries a slightly archaic or literary tone.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both corpora. Slightly more likely to be encountered in historical or literary texts.
Grammar
How to Use “becalm” in a Sentence
[Ship/Subject] + be/become + becalmed + [in/on Location][Agent] + becalm + [Ship/Object]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “becalm” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The sudden loss of wind could becalm the entire flotilla.
- He feared the committee's indecision would becalm the reform process.
American English
- A high-pressure system will becalm ships along the coast.
- The lawsuit has becalmed development of the new neighborhood.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could be used metaphorically: 'The merger talks were becalmed by regulatory concerns.'
Academic
Rare, mostly in historical or literary analysis discussing nautical themes or metaphors of stagnation.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Used in nautical/maritime contexts to describe a specific condition of a sailing vessel.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “becalm”
- Using it as a simple synonym for 'calm' (e.g., 'She becalmed the baby' is incorrect).
- Confusing it with 'beckon'.
- Using it in active voice for the extended sense is rare; the passive participle 'becalmed' is far more common.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency word primarily found in nautical, literary, or formal contexts.
Not directly. You calm a person. 'Becalm' is used for vessels or, metaphorically, for processes or activities that become stalled. A person can *feel* becalmed (in a state of inactivity).
The past participle 'becalmed' is the most frequently encountered form, often used as an adjective (e.g., 'a becalmed ship').
'Calm' is a general verb meaning to make tranquil. 'Becalm' is specific: it originally means to deprive a sailing ship of wind, rendering it motionless. Its extended meanings retain this core idea of causing a helpless stillness.
To make (a sailing vessel) motionless due to lack of wind.
Becalm is usually literary, nautical, formal in register.
Becalm: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈkɑːm/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɪˈkɑːm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “becalmed in the doldrums (literal and figurative)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BE stuck because there's no wind to make it CALM and move.' The 'be-' prefix often means 'to make or cause to be' (as in 'befriend'), so 'becalm' means 'to make calm (and stuck).'
Conceptual Metaphor
LACK OF WIND IS LACK OF PROGRESS / STILLNESS IS STAGNATION
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'becalm' used most accurately?