Astern has 5 different meanings across 1 category:
Adverb
Adjective
1
Behind a vessel; having a bearing of 180 degrees from ahead.
Adverb
1
stern foremost or backward
"the steamer went astern at half speed"
2
at or near or toward the stern of a ship or tail of an airplane
"stow the luggage aft"
"ships with square sails sail fairly efficiently with the wind abaft"
"the captain looked astern to see what the fuss was about"
3
(of a ship or an airplane) behind
"we dropped her astern on the end of a seven-inch manilla, and she laid comfortably on the ebb tide"
4
Behind (a vessel); in the rear.
Example Sentences
"the steamer went astern at half speed"
adverb
"stow the luggage aft"
adverb
"ships with square sails sail fairly efficiently with the wind abaft"
adverb
"the captain looked astern to see what the fuss was about"
adverb
"we dropped her astern on the end of a seven-inch manilla, and she laid comfortably on the ebb tide"
adverb