shovel

[ shuhv-uh l ]

/ ˈʃʌv əl /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR shovel ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an implement consisting of a broad blade or scoop attached to a long handle, used for taking up, removing, or throwing loose matter, as earth, snow, or coal.

any fairly large contrivance or machine with a broad blade or scoop for taking up or removing loose matter: a steam shovel.

a shovelful.

Informal. shovel hat.

verb (used with object), shov·eled, shov·el·ing or (especially British) shov·elled, shov·el·ling.

to take up and cast or remove with a shovel: to shovel coal.

to gather up in large quantity roughly or carelessly with or as if with a shovel: He shoveled food into his mouth.

to dig or clear with or as if with a shovel: to shovel a path through the snow.

verb (used without object), shov·eled, shov·el·ing or (especially British) shov·elled, shov·el·ling.

to work with a shovel.

Origin of shovel

before 900; Middle English schovel, Old English scofl; cognate with Dutch schoffel hoe; akin to German Schaufel shovel

OTHER WORDS FROM shovel

un·shov·eled, adjective un·shov·elled, adjective

Words nearby shovel

shouty, shove, shove off, shove-ha'penny, shove-halfpenny, shovel, shovel beak, shovel hat, shovel-nosed, shovelboard, shoveler

Example sentences from the Web for shovel

Moran also pointed out straight edges where a shovel had sliced into the earth.

Knowing Where the Bodies Are Buried: An Excerpt From 'Lives in Ruins' |Marilyn Johnson |November 14, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He grabbed a shovel and started identifying mysterious birdcalls, naming previously unknown plants and trees.

Uncovering the Secrets of St. Kitts |Debra A. Klein |June 21, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Leaning on the shovel in the pen outside the chicken coop, I was wondering.

What Did TJ Mean By “Pursuit of Happiness,” Anyway? |P. J. O’Rourke |June 8, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
There are also three meditation classes to lead weekly, and lots of snow to shovel in the wintertime.

Swiss Town: Have Cave, Want (Social and Outgoing) Hermit |Nina Strochlic |May 9, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Of course Obama has been dealt an historically tough hand, and there is plenty of blame to shovel across the political aisle.

Obama’s Speech Was Missing Shared Goals for America’s Future |Mark McKinnon |January 29, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He had before placed a pick and shovel, an axe, a couple of boards and some cords in the boat.

Work and Win |Oliver Optic
It is contrary to good breeding to shovel one's food into the mouth with a knife.

Science in the Kitchen. |Mrs. E. E. Kellogg
The funeral was over, the last word of the service spoken, the first shovel of earth flung rattling on to the coffin.

Mrs. Halliburton's Troubles |Mrs. Henry Wood
Mrs Maggot observed that they were also armed with a pick and shovel.

Deep Down, a Tale of the Cornish Mines |R.M. Ballantyne
Then he went out, and he got his cart, and he put his shovel and his hoe in it, and he called his cat; but no cat came.

The Doers |William John Hopkins

British Dictionary definitions for shovel

shovel

/ (ˈʃʌvəl) /

noun

an instrument for lifting or scooping loose material, such as earth, coal, etc, consisting of a curved blade or a scoop attached to a handle

any machine or part resembling a shovel in action

Also called: shovelful the amount that can be contained in a shovel

short for shovel hat

verb -els, -elling or -elled or US -els, -eling or -eled

to lift (earth, etc) with a shovel

(tr) to clear or dig (a path) with or as if with a shovel

(tr) to gather, load, or unload in a hurried or careless way he shovelled the food into his mouth and rushed away

Derived forms of shovel

shoveller or US shoveler, noun

Word Origin for shovel

Old English scofl; related to Old High German scūfla shovel, Dutch schoffel hoe; see shove

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

shovel

noun

verb (used with object), shov·eled, shov·el·ing or (especially British) shov·elled, shov·el·ling.

verb (used without object), shov·eled, shov·el·ing or (especially British) shov·elled, shov·el·ling.

Origin of shovel

OTHER WORDS FROM shovel

Words nearby shovel

Example sentences from the Web for shovel

British Dictionary definitions for shovel

noun

verb -els, -elling or -elled or US -els, -eling or -eled

Derived forms of shovel

Word Origin for shovel

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

shovel

noun

verb (used with object), shov·eled, shov·el·ing or (especially British) shov·elled, shov·el·ling.

verb (used without object), shov·eled, shov·el·ing or (especially British) shov·elled, shov·el·ling.

Origin of shovel

OTHER WORDS FROM shovel

Words nearby shovel

Words related to shovel

Example sentences from the Web for shovel

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for shovel

noun

verb -els, -elling or -elled or US -els, -eling or -eled

Derived forms of shovel

Word Origin for shovel

British Dictionary definitions for shovel