shoal

[ shohl ]

/ ʃoʊl /

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See synonyms for: shoal / shoaled / shoaler / shoalest on Thesaurus.com

noun

a place where a sea, river, or other body of water is shallow.

a sandbank or sand bar in the bed of a body of water, especially one that is exposed above the surface of the water at low tide.

adjective

of little depth, as water; shallow.

verb (used without object)

to become shallow or more shallow.

verb (used with object)

to cause to become shallow.

Nautical. to sail so as to lessen the depth of (the water under a vessel).

SYNONYMS FOR shoal

1 shallow, rapid, riffle.

2 reef.

See synonyms for shoal on Thesaurus.com

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON “THEIR,” “THERE,” AND “THEY’RE”

Are you aware how often people swap around “their,” “there,” and “they’re”? Prove you have more than a fair grasp over these commonly confused words.

Question 1 of 7

Which one of these commonly confused words can act as an adverb or a pronoun?

their

there

they're

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of shoal

before 900; (adj.) Middle English (Scots ) shald,Old English scealdshallow; (noun and v.) derivative of the adj.

Words nearby shoal

shnaps, SHO, Shoa, shoad, Shoah, shoal, shoaly, shoat, shochet, shock, shock absorber

Definition for shoal (2 of 2)

shoal²

[ shohl ]

/ ʃoʊl /

noun

any large number of persons or things.

a school of fish: a shoal of herring;a shoal of mackerel.

verb (used without object)

to collect in a shoal; throng.

Origin of shoal

First recorded in 1570–80; earlier shole, probably from Middle Dutch, Middle Low German schōle, with sound-substitution of sh- for Low German skh-;cf. school²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for shoal

Alter finds little evidence of open bigotry in his past, but Carter usually managed to navigate the perilous shoals of racial politics in the Deep South by portage — avoiding them as best he could.
The case for Jimmy Carter as a ‘consequential’ president|Russell L. Riley|December 4, 2020|Washington Post
Off the entrance is a high rocky islet, the Nobby, within which the channel is shoal and dangerous to pass.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2]|Phillip Parker King
The continuation of the shoal between the islands and Point Lookout was not clearly ascertained.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2]|Phillip Parker King
At a short quarter of a mile from the point is a rocky shoal of small size, between which and the shore there is deep water.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2]|Phillip Parker King

Some shoal marks on the water were observed opposite these islands, but their existence was not ascertained.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2]|Phillip Parker King
At the bottom of Knocker's Bay is a shoal mangrove opening, of no importance.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2]|Phillip Parker King

British Dictionary definitions for shoal (1 of 2)

shoal¹

/ (ʃəʊl) /

noun

a stretch of shallow water

a sandbank or rocky area in a stretch of water, esp one that is visible at low water

verb

to make or become shallow

(intr) nautical to sail into shallower water

adjective Also: shoaly

a less common word for shallow

nautical (of the draught of a vessel) drawing little water

Derived forms of shoal

shoaliness, noun

Word Origin for shoal

Old English sceald shallow

British Dictionary definitions for shoal (2 of 2)

shoal²

/ (ʃəʊl) /

noun

a large group of certain aquatic animals, esp fish

a large group of people or things

verb

(intr) to collect together in such a group

Word Origin for shoal

Old English scolu; related to Middle Low German, Middle Dutch schōle school ²

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

Scientific definitions for shoal

shoal

[ shōl ]

A submerged mound or ridge of sediment in a body of shallow water.

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