shovel

[shuhv-uhl]

noun

1. 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.

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

   a steam shovel.

3. a shovelful.

4. Informal.,  shovel hat.

verb (used with object)

shoveled, shoveling , shovelled, shovelling .

1. to take up and cast or remove with a shovel.

   to shovel coal.

2. to gather up in large quantity roughly or carelessly with or as if with a shovel.

   He shoveled food into his mouth.

3. to dig or clear with or as if with a shovel.

   to shovel a path through the snow.

verb (used without object)

shoveled, shoveling , shovelled, shovelling .

1. to work with a shovel.

shovel

/ ˈʃʌvəl /

noun

1. 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

2. any machine or part resembling a shovel in action

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

4. short for shovel hat

verb

1. to lift (earth, etc) with a shovel

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

3. (tr) to gather, load, or unload in a hurried or careless way

   he shovelled the food into his mouth and rushed away

Other Word Forms

• unshoveled adjective
• unshovelled adjective
• shoveller noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of shovel¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of shovel¹

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

Example Sentences

“We want to be ready with a project that can put shovels in the ground when that happens.”

From Los Angeles Times

Armed with shovels and heavy construction equipment, crews quickly collected fire debris from rugged cliffsides, dusky shorelines and sprawling burnt-out neighborhoods.

From Los Angeles Times

Most people on a job site have legal status, Harris said, “but if shovels never hit the ground, the costs are being borne by everybody, and it’s slowing the rebuilding of L.A.”

From Los Angeles Times

"Half an hour had gone and there was no call back from them, so that's when I phoned friends and we started getting in and shovelling them all down to the river."

From BBC

But before you can get a shovel into the ground, everything changes.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dredge 
• excavate