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a warship equipped with a large open deck for the taking off and landing of warplanes and with facilities to carry, service, and arm them.
Contemporary Examples

Those arguing for a no-fly zone don’t need a U.S. aircraft carrier.
Let Libya’s Neighbors Fix It Leslie H. Gelb March 15, 2011

And maybe that video of George W. Bush strutting around on an aircraft carrier in his flight suit.
Want To Know What America Thinks of Itself? Watch Jack Ryan on Wall Street Andrew Romano January 17, 2014

This raises an interesting question: What would Israel have offered if the U.S. had thrown in an aircraft carrier?
The Israeli Smoke Screen Richard Cohen November 15, 2010

The naval surface fleet is built around the carrier strike group, consisting of an aircraft carrier and its escort ships.
Obama Lets the Pirates Off Stephen L. Carter July 21, 2011

The U.S. government immediately sent an aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, after the earthquake.
The Japanese Government’s Appalling Earthquake Response The Daily Beast March 16, 2011

Historical Examples

Minutes later, the two boys embarked in a motor launch that took them to an aircraft carrier standing by in the vicinity.
Tom Swift and the Electronic Hydrolung Victor Appleton

Best experience for landing at Baguio is making landings on aircraft carrier.
The Golden Skull John Blaine

Ill be ready to sail in a month or two, on an aircraft carrier.
Sally Scott of the Waves Roy J. Snell

Next day an aircraft carrier put out of Naples with an escort of destroyers.
The Invaders William Fitzgerald Jenkins

An aircraft carrier wallowed alongside the formation of cruisers.
A Yankee Flier with the R.A.F. Rutherford G. Montgomery

noun
a warship built with an extensive flat deck space for the launch and recovery of aircraft