paddle

1
[ pad-l ]
See synonyms for: paddlepaddling on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a short, flat bladed oar for propelling and steering a canoe or small boat, usually held by both hands and moved more or less through a vertical arc.

  2. any of various similar implements used for mixing, stirring, or beating.

  1. any of various similar but smaller implements with a short handle for holding in one hand and a wide or rounded blade, used for a racket in table tennis, paddle tennis, etc.

  2. such an implement or a similarly shaped makeshift one, used to spank or beat someone.

  3. an implement used for beating garments while washing them in running water, as in a stream.

  4. Also called float, floatboard . a blade of a paddle wheel.

  5. any of the blades by which a water wheel is turned.

  6. a flipper or limb of a penguin, turtle, whale, etc.

  7. an act of paddling.

  8. Also pat·tle [pat-l, paht-l] /ˈpæt l, ˈpɑt l/ .British Dialect. a small spade with a long handle, used to dig up thistles.

  9. (in a gate of a lock or sluice) a panel that slides to permit the passage of water.

verb (used without object),pad·dled, pad·dling.
  1. to propel or travel in a canoe or the like by using a paddle.

  2. to row lightly or gently with oars.

  1. to move by means of paddle wheels, as a steamer.

verb (used with object),pad·dled, pad·dling.
  1. to propel with a paddle: to paddle a canoe.

  2. to spank or beat with or as with a paddle.

  1. to stir, mix, or beat with or as with a paddle

  2. to convey by paddling, as a canoe.

  3. to hit (a table-tennis ball or the like) with a paddle.

Idioms about paddle

  1. paddle one's own canoe. canoe (def. 6).

Origin of paddle

1
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English noun padell “long-handled spade”; further origin uncertain; perhaps from Medieval Latin padela, padule

Other words from paddle

  • paddler, noun

Words Nearby paddle

Other definitions for paddle (2 of 2)

paddle2
[ pad-l ]

verb (used without object),pad·dled, pad·dling.
  1. to move the feet or hands playfully in shallow water; dabble.

  2. to toy with the fingers.

  1. to toddle.

Origin of paddle

2
First recorded in 1520–30; origin uncertain; perhaps from Low German paddeln “to tramp about”

Other words from paddle

  • paddler, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use paddle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for paddle (1 of 2)

paddle1

/ (ˈpædəl) /


noun
  1. a short light oar with a flat blade at one or both ends, used without a rowlock to propel a canoe or small boat

  2. Also called: float a blade of a water wheel or paddle wheel

  1. a period of paddling: to go for a paddle upstream

    • a paddle wheel used to propel a boat

    • (as modifier): a paddle steamer

  2. the sliding panel in a lock or sluicegate that regulates the level or flow of water

  3. any of various instruments shaped like a paddle and used for beating, mixing, etc

  4. a table-tennis bat

  5. the flattened limb of a seal, turtle, or similar aquatic animal, specialized for swimming

verb
  1. to propel (a canoe, small boat, etc) with a paddle

  2. paddle one's own canoe

    • to be self-sufficient

    • to mind one's own business

  1. (tr) to convey by paddling: we paddled him to the shore

  2. (tr) to stir or mix with or as if with a paddle

  3. to row (a boat) steadily, esp (of a racing crew) to row firmly but not at full pressure

  4. (intr) (of steamships) to be propelled by paddle wheels

  5. (intr) to swim with short rapid strokes, like a dog

  6. (tr) US and Canadian informal to spank

Origin of paddle

1
C15: of unknown origin

Derived forms of paddle

  • paddler, noun

British Dictionary definitions for paddle (2 of 2)

paddle2

/ (ˈpædəl) /


verb(mainly intr)
  1. to walk or play barefoot in shallow water, mud, etc

  2. to dabble the fingers, hands, or feet in water

  1. to walk unsteadily, like a baby

  2. (tr) archaic to fondle with the fingers

noun
  1. the act of paddling in water

Origin of paddle

2
C16: of uncertain origin

Derived forms of paddle

  • paddler, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with paddle

paddle

In addition to the idiom beginning with paddle

  • paddle one's own canoe

also see:

  • up the creek (without a paddle)

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.