oar

American  

[awr, ohr] / ɔr, oʊr /

noun

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

2. something resembling this or having a similar purpose.

3. a person who rows; oarsman.

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verb (used with object)

1. to propel with or as if with oars; row.

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

verb (used without object)

1. to row.

2. to move or advance as if by rowing.

idioms

1. 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.

2. put in one's oar, to meddle; interfere.

   He put in his oar and was told to mind his own business.

oar British  

/ ɔː /

noun

1. 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

2. short for oarsman

3. to interfere or interrupt

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verb

1. to row or propel with or as if with oars

   the two men were oaring their way across the lake

oar More Idioms  

1. see put one's oar in.

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Other Word Forms

• oarless adjective
• oarlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of oar

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

Example Sentences

Slowly it moved its flippers like the oars of a rowboat, turning toward Renata and bobbing its head as if in greeting as it went past.

From Literature

"We lost oars, and we drifted out further.... It kind of all went wrong very, very quickly."

From BBC

According to World Rowing, the earliest representation of a rowing boat was found in Finland and dated back to 5,800BC, while the oar was "considered to be the most important invention before the wheel".

From BBC

Near sunset they returned, manfully pulling the oars as the dories rode low in the water, heavy with glistening, still-wriggling fish.

From Literature

It was Alexander’s idea, and a clever one, too, for the fern fronds served nicely as the three tiers of oars that jutted from each side of the ship.

From Literature