shovel

[ shuhv-uh l ]

/ ˈʃʌv əl /

noun

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.

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

a shovelful.

Informal. shovel hat.

verb (used with object), shov·eled, shov·el·ing or (especially British) shov·elled, shov·el·ling.

to take up and cast or remove with a shovel: to shovel coal.

to gather up in large quantity roughly or carelessly with or as if with a shovel: He shoveled food into his mouth.

to dig or clear with or as if with a shovel: to shovel a path through the snow.

verb (used without object), shov·eled, shov·el·ing or (especially British) shov·elled, shov·el·ling.

to work with a shovel.

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Origin of shovel

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

OTHER WORDS FROM shovel

un·shov·eled, adjectiveun·shov·elled, adjective

Words nearby shovel

shouty, shove, shove off, shove-ha'penny, shove-halfpenny, shovel, shovel beak, shovel hat, shovel-nosed, shovelboard, shoveler

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for shoveling

And they are putting the tools to work, shoveling cash out the door in the form of (lightly taxed until Jan. 1, 2013) dividends.
Fiscal Cliff Countdown, Day 30: Senate Meets Dada|Daniel Gross|December 6, 2012|DAILY BEAST
And companies are shoveling dividends out to their shareholders before the taxman comes calling.
Fiscal Cliff Fears Drive Huge Spike in Dividend Payouts|Matthew Zeitlin|November 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
“At that time, Mr. Borcina cleaned out the fireplace, shoveling the ash into a paper bag,” Cohen says.
Madonna Badger’s ‘Today’ Interview Shouldn’t Ignore Fire’s Tragic Lessons|Michael Daly|June 21, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Are the media about to bury Newt Gingrich for the third time, shoveling extra dirt on his campaign casket to just to make sure?
Newt Gingrich’s Fear Factor: What If He Loses the Florida Primary?|Howard Kurtz|January 31, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Boiled down, shoveling snow and helping the stranded epitomize governing.
How Blizzards Break Politicians|Shushannah Walshe|December 29, 2010|DAILY BEAST
By shoveling bran and other vegetables 16 hours a day, a general knowledge of the milling business may be readily obtained.
Remarks|Bill Nye
They worked on for a few minutes longer, then Charley threw down the board with which he had been shoveling.
The Boy Chums Cruising in Florida Waters|Wilmer M. Ely
But sometimes, when the shoveling is good, we get in another clean up or two by working a little late.
The Cave of Gold|Everett McNeil
Many of the tools imported were suited to shoveling sand, not to removing rock.
Heroes of To-Day|Mary R. Parkman
So long as we are merely eating, or walking, or shoveling snow, the process goes on fast enough.
Natural Wonders|Edwin Tenney Brewster

British Dictionary definitions for shoveling

shovel

/ (ˈʃʌvəl) /

noun

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

any machine or part resembling a shovel in action

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

short for shovel hat

verb -els, -elling or -elled or US -els, -eling or -eled

to lift (earth, etc) with a shovel

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

(tr) to gather, load, or unload in a hurried or careless wayhe shovelled the food into his mouth and rushed away

Derived forms of shovel

shoveller or US shoveler, noun

Word Origin for shovel

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

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

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shovel

noun

verb (used with object), shov·eled, shov·el·ing or (especially British) shov·elled, shov·el·ling.

verb (used without object), shov·eled, shov·el·ing or (especially British) shov·elled, shov·el·ling.

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Origin of shovel

OTHER WORDS FROM shovel

Words nearby shovel

Example sentences from the Web for shoveling

British Dictionary definitions for shoveling

noun

verb -els, -elling or -elled or US -els, -eling or -eled

Derived forms of shovel

Word Origin for shovel

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

shovel

noun

verb (used with object), shov·eled, shov·el·ing or (especially British) shov·elled, shov·el·ling.

verb (used without object), shov·eled, shov·el·ing or (especially British) shov·elled, shov·el·ling.

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Origin of shovel

OTHER WORDS FROM shovel

Words nearby shovel

Words related to shoveling

Example sentences from the Web for shoveling

British Dictionary definitions for shoveling

noun

verb -els, -elling or -elled or US -els, -eling or -eled

Derived forms of shovel

Word Origin for shovel