snail

American  

[sneyl] / sneɪl /

noun

1. any mollusk of the class Gastropoda, having a spirally coiled shell and a ventral muscular foot on which it slowly glides about.

2. a slow or lazy person; sluggard.

3. Machinery. a cam having the form of a spiral.

4. Midwestern and Western U.S. a sweet roll in spiral form, especially a cinnamon roll or piece of Danish pastry.

---

snail British  

/ sneɪl /

noun

1. any of numerous terrestrial or freshwater gastropod molluscs with a spirally coiled shell, esp any of the family Helicidae, such as Helix aspersa ( garden snail )

2. any other gastropod with a spirally coiled shell, such as a whelk

3. a slow-moving or lazy person or animal

---

Other Word Forms

• snail-like adjective
• snaillike adjective

Etymology

Origin of snail

before 900; Middle English snail, snayl ( e ), Old English snegel; cognate with Low German snagel, German (dial.) Schnegel

Example Sentences

An Irish reporter asked Trump about the proposed expansion of his golf resort in County Clare, which is currently on hold over the fate of a protected species of snail.

From Salon • Mar. 18, 2026

Part of what’s appealing about snail mail, she said, is remembering that “it’s really nice to devote your entire attention to something.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026

There are close-ups of hands kneading dough, a snail sliming its way up a window and Cathy prodding a jellied fish with her finger.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2026

Conservationists and citizen scientists have joined forces for a project to save London's "charming little" ice-age hairy snail.

From BBC • Nov. 24, 2025

The silver fairy with blue hair changed a snail shell into a beautiful shield.

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull

Related Words

• clam
• conch
• crawfish
• crustacean
• lobster
• mollusk
• mussel
• oyster
• prawn
• scallop
• shrimp