oar

[ awr, ohr ]

/ ɔr, oʊr /

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See synonyms for: oar / oared / oaring on Thesaurus.com

noun

a long shaft with a broad blade at one end, used as a lever for rowing or otherwise propelling or steering a boat.

something resembling this or having a similar purpose.

a person who rows; oarsman.

verb (used with object)

to propel with or as if with oars; row.

to traverse or make (one's way) by, or as if by, rowing.

verb (used without object)

to row.

to move or advance as if by rowing.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about oar

put in one's oar, to meddle; interfere: He put in his oar and was told to mind his own business.

rest on one's oars, to cease to make an effort; relax after exertion; stop working after success or completing a task: Once he became president, he was content to rest on his oars.

Origin of oar

before 900; Middle English ore,Old English ār; cognate with Old Norse ār

OTHER WORDS FROM oar

oarless, adjectiveoarlike, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH oar

oar , o'er, or, ore

Words nearby oar

oanshagh, OAO, OAP, OAPC, OAPEC, oar, oared, oarfish, oarlock, oars, oarsman

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use oar in a sentence

A guide breaks the silence by slapping his oar on the water.
Finding solace — and splashes aplenty — on Colorado’s Yampa River|Rachel Walker|August 4, 2022|Washington Post
Raft the Desert West’s Best River Stretches with OARS Read these tips to incredible rafting trips for families, thrill seekers, and those just looking for relaxation amid some of the country’s best scenery in Utah and Colorado.
How to Visit 7 National Parks in a Single Road Trip|cobrien|February 23, 2022|Outside Online
Tucked behind the crab’s claws are a pair of wide, flat arms that almost resemble oars.
This 90-million-year-old crab had the eyes of a hunter|Philip Kiefer|January 11, 2022|Popular-Science
A 22-inch HD touchscreen monitor, powerful speakers, and a proprietary ultrasmooth and quiet resistance system designed to mimic the pull of an oar through water combine to create a completely immersive experience.
Rowing Is the New Running|Outside Editors|April 15, 2021|Outside Online

The only sound is the splash that the oars make when they hit the water.
When a Body Meets a Boatman on the Ganges|Eugene Robinson|February 23, 2021|Ozy
Their ineptitude required the seaman to abandon his post at the tiller and man an oar himself.
The Titanic’s Haute Heroine: The Countess of Rothes|Elizabeth Kaye|April 12, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Frank leaped ashore and pushed the boat off, while Mayne held her by jamming the leeward oar into the mud.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
There are some people who leave impressions not so lasting as the imprint of an oar upon the water.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
A single oar used rather as rudder than paddle guides the tank to the middle of the stream, where it floats to its destination.
Journal of a Voyage to Brazil|Maria Graham
Jim and Grundy each seized an oar, and, exerting their strength, they were soon clear of the wreck.
The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands|R.M. Ballantyne
And now a chase began with oar and sail, and continued till noon, when Crown Point was still some leagues away.
Stories of Our Naval Heroes|Various

British Dictionary definitions for oar

oar

/ (ɔː) /

noun

a long shaft of wood for propelling a boat by rowing, having a broad blade that is dipped into and pulled against the water. Oars were also used for steering certain kinds of ancient sailing boats

short for oarsman

put one's oar in to interfere or interrupt

verb

to row or propel with or as if with oarsthe two men were oaring their way across the lake

Derived forms of oar

oarless, adjectiveoarlike, adjective

Word Origin for oar

Old English ār, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse ār

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 oar

oar

see put one's oar in.