frigate: Meaning and Definition of

frig•ate

Pronunciation: (frig'it), [key]
— n.
  1. a fast naval vessel of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, generally having a lofty ship rig and heavily armed on one or two decks.
  2. any of various types of modern naval vessels ranging in size from a destroyer escort to a cruiser, frequently armed with guided missiles and used for aircraft carrier escort duty, shore bombardment, and miscellaneous combat functions.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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