noun
mole
A massive stone structure that shelters or encloses a harbor.
The stone mole protects the harbor from powerful ocean waves.
Etymology
The Latin word means a mass or large structure. The harbor sense specializes it for a massive built barrier that protects or encloses water.
More examples
- Fishing boats shelter behind the mole during storms.
- Workers replace damaged stone blocks along the mole.
- The ferry enters the harbor between two moles.
Forms
mole · moles
Similar words
- breakwater
- Can be offshore and need not be built of stone.
- jetty
- Usually extends into water to guide currents or protect channels.