A vessel can refer to different things depending on the context. It can be a large boat or ship that travels on water, carrying cargo, passengers, or supporting specialized missions such as defense, research, and fishing. In a broader sense, a vessel can also be a container for holding something, such as a cask, bottle, kettle, cup, or bowl. Additionally, it can refer to a tube or canal in which a body fluid is contained and conveyed or circulated, or a conducting tube in the xylem of a vascular plant. In a more figurative sense, a vessel can be a person who has a particular quality or who is used for a particular purpose. It can also be an aircraft, especially an airship. Furthermore, in anatomy, it can be a tubular structure that transports body fluids such as blood and lymph. Finally, in chemical engineering, a vessel is a large container in which a process is carried out, such as storing and processing materials.