1. a wall or partition that divides the interior of a ship, aircraft, or spacecraft into separate compartments
Usage: nautical; aviation
2. a retaining wall built to prevent soil erosion or to hold back water
Usage: engineering
3. a wall or structure that provides protection or separation in a building or underground space

Examples

• The ship’s bulkhead prevented water from flooding the entire vessel.
• Engineers installed a steel bulkhead to separate the engine room from the cargo hold.
• The concrete bulkhead along the shoreline protects the property from erosion.
• Workers reinforced the bulkhead in the subway tunnel for safety.
• The aircraft’s bulkhead was damaged during the emergency landing.
• A new bulkhead was constructed to hold back the hillside soil.
• The basement bulkhead provides access to the underground storage area.