caisson C2 Topic:Tools, Machines & Construction US /ˈkeɪ.sɑn/ UK /ˈkeɪ.sən/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 noun a watertight structure used to keep water out of an underwater construction site or to form part of its foundations Workers lowered the caisson into the riverbed before building the bridge pier. 2 noun a large watertight gate that closes the entrance to a dry dock The repair crew closed the caisson and pumped the dock dry. 3 noun a tank that can be submerged and then emptied of water to help raise a sunken object Divers attached a caisson to the wreck before the lifting operation. 4 noun military: a wheeled vehicle used to carry ammunition or, ceremonially, a coffin The coffin travelled to the cemetery on a horse-drawn caisson. 5 noun military: a box or chest used to hold ammunition The museum displayed a caisson beside the restored field gun. 1 more meanings 6 noun architecture: a recessed decorative panel in a ceiling or vault Each caisson in the ceiling was painted with a small gold star. Thesaurus Word family Related forms coffer Etymology Borrowed from French caisson. Topics Tools, Machines & Construction External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # caisson **Type:** Word **Level:** C2 **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /ˈkeɪ.sɑn/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈkeɪ.sən/ ## Meanings 1. a watertight structure used to keep water out of an underwater construction site or to form part of its foundations 2. a large watertight gate that closes the entrance to a dry dock 3. a tank that can be submerged and then emptied of water to help raise a sunken object 4. military: a wheeled vehicle used to carry ammunition or, ceremonially, a coffin 5. military: a box or chest used to hold ammunition 6. architecture: a recessed decorative panel in a ceiling or vault ## Examples - Workers lowered the caisson into the riverbed before building the bridge pier. - The repair crew closed the caisson and pumped the dock dry. - Divers attached a caisson to the wreck before the lifting operation. - The coffin travelled to the cemetery on a horse-drawn caisson. - The museum displayed a caisson beside the restored field gun. - Each caisson in the ceiling was painted with a small gold star. ## Related Forms - coffer ## Etymology Borrowed from French caisson. ## Topics - Tools, Machines & Construction markdown