Learn English – shore, shoreline, beach, coast, coastline

vocabulary

I have browsed the Internet several times, and eventually, I failed to learn what is the difference exactly between those.

It would be appreciated, if someone please through a marked or signed picture show me their differences. Or, where are they located or imagined exactly– or, which oart of the land are they considered to be located? I have looked up the dictionary Oxford, but I am yet confused with them. I don't need the explanations of dictionaries, but I want you please suggest a different interpretation of the terms, so that I could differentiate between them well. especially, I cannot understand any difference between the bold parts.

shore, shoreline, beach, coast, coastline. sand.

I have seen the first one in the dictionary Oxford. And, the second one is my own sentence. So, is it correct? if not why? or what is the difference between those?

The ship was anchored off shore.

The ship was anchored off coast.

Best Answer

Shore

(Oxford definition) The land along the edge of the sea or ocean, a lake or another large area of water.

(Merriam Webster definition) Strip of land where the sea meets the land.

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Shoreline

(Oxford definition) The edge of the sea, the ocean or a lake.

(Merriam Webster definition) Strip of land where the sea meets the land.

From dictionary definition it might mean that they are similar, but in reality or in actual ocean terminology they are not similar.

(From coastal wiki) The intersection between the mean high water line and the shore.

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Beach

(Merriam Webster definition) Area where the land meets the sea; its features vary depending on climate, wind, sea and the type of rocks of which it is composed.

(Oxford definition) An area of sand or small stones (called shingles) beside the sea or a lake.

So a beach and a shore are the same.

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Coast

(Oxford definition) The land beside or near to the sea or ocean

(From coastal wiki) The strip of land that extends from the coastline inland to the first major change in the terrain features, which are not influenced by the coastal processes. The main types of coastal features are dunes, cliffs and low-lying areas, possibly protected by dikes or seawalls.

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Please refer the picture for better understanding.

Coastline

(Oxford definition) The land along a coast, especially when you are thinking of its shape or appearance.

(From coastal wiki) Technically the line that forms the boundary between the COAST and the SHORE, i.e. the foot of the cliff or the foot of the dunes. Commonly, the line that forms the boundary between the land and the water.

Again have a look at this picture for better understanding.

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Usage Note from Advanced Learner's Dictionary

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