Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Commodore

Com′mo-doreˊ

,
Noun.
[Prob. a corruption of
commander
, or Sp.
comendador
a knight of a military order who holds a commandery; also a superior of a monastery, fr. LL.
commendare
to command. Cf.
Commend
,
Command
,
Commander
.]
1.
(U. S. Navy)
An officer who ranks next above a captain; sometimes, by courtesy, the senior captain of a squadron. The rank of commodore corresponds with that of brigadier general in the army.
2.
(British Navy)
A captain commanding a squadron, or a division of a fleet, or having the temporary rank of rear admiral.
3.
A title given by courtesy to the senior captain of a line of merchant vessels, and also to the chief officer of a yachting or rowing club.
4.
A familiar for the flagship, or for the principal vessel of a squadron or fleet.

Webster 1828 Edition


Commodore

COMMODORE

,
Noun.
1.
The officer who commands a squadron or detachment of ships, destined on a particular enterprise. In the British marine, he bears the rank of a brigadier-general in the army, and his ship is distinguished by a broad red pendant, tapering to the outer end, and sometimes forked.
2.
A title given by courtesy to the senior captain, when three or more ships of war are cruising in company.
3.
The convoy or leading ship in a fleet of merchantmen, which carries a light in her top to conduct the other ships.

Definition 2024


commodore

commodore

English

Noun

commodore (plural commodores)

  1. (military, nautical) A naval officer holding a rank between captain and rear admiral.
  2. (nautical) A (temporary) commander over a collection of ships who is not an admiral.
  3. (nautical) The president of a yacht club
  4. (US, military, nautical) A commodore admiral
  5. (US, military, nautical) A rear admiral (lower half)

Synonyms

Usage notes

The equivalent army rank is brigadier, senior colonel, brigadier general, or lowest ranking general officer grade.

Coordinate terms

Translations


French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kɔ.mɔ.dɔʁ/

Noun

commodore m, f (plural commodores)

  1. (military, nautical) commodore, a naval military rank between captain (capitaine de vaisseau or capitaine de croiseur) and rear admiral (contre-amiral)

Synonyms

  • cmdre, cmdre. (abbreviation)