court+-ship

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkɔːt.ʃɪp/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈkɔrt.ʃɪp/

• Audio (UK)

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• Hyphenation: court‧ship

1. (countable & uncountable) Courtship is the period leading up to mating or marriage. The term can be applied to humans and animals.

   After a long courtship they got married.

   Courtship display is a set of behaviours leading up to mating in birds.