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United States Coast Guard

United States Coast Guard

2 3.5
A branch of the US government that protects people at sea, rescues boats and crews, and stops illegal activity
  • proper noun
  • /juːˈnaɪtɪd steɪts koʊst ɡɑrd/
  • Formal
translation icon : Guardia Costera de los Estados Unidos
  • More importantly, sporadic United States Coast Guard inspections on foreign flag vessels do not compensate for the flag states' lax enforcement (and even non-enforcement) of international rules and regulations.
  • United States Coast Guard Academy

Examples

  • MURPHY (to radio): United States Coast Guard, United States Coast Guard, United States Coast Guard.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • MURPHY (to radio): United States Coast Guard, United States

    Fiction book (2002)
  • This is the United States Coast Guard North Island Station.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • This is United States Coast Guard Station North Island.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • MURPHY (to radio): United States Coast Guard, United States Coast Guard, United States Coast Guard.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • MURPHY (to radio): United States Coast Guard, United States Coast Guard, United States Coast Guard.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Senior Chief Randall is one of the most decorated rescue swimmers in the history of the United States Coast Guard.

  • Out of the 39,000 men and women who make up the United States Coast Guard, there are only 280 rescue swimmers.

  • The United States Coast Guard conducts regular patrols along the coastline to ensure maritime security.

  • During the storm, the United States Coast Guard rescued several stranded boaters from the rough seas.

Synonyms

US Coast Guard
vsUnited States Coast Guard
  • Formal
1 3.3

A part of the United States government that patrols coasts, enforces laws at sea, and rescues people

is the same agency named with the country's full name rather than its abbreviation

How Powerful

sea power
1 4.8
navy
203 2.0
United States Coast Guard
  • Formal
2 3.5
combat ship
1 5.3

Surface Forms

Morphology

united + state + coast + guard

The name is compositionally transparent: 'United States' + 'coast' + 'guard' clearly denotes an organization of the United States that guards/protects the coasts. A B1 learner who knows the constituent words can readily infer it is a U.S. maritime protection/search-and-rescue agency, even if they may not know all specific duties.

Etymology

United States Coast Guard comes from the simple image of people who 'guard' the coast; the word guard means to watch and protect. Long ago, small boats and crews watched the shore to stop smugglers and to rescue ships and people in danger, so the name now means the service that protects and helps at sea.