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.

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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

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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

The snail's pace is intentional: as if carrying a precious Ming vase, the slow, gentle motion reduces stresses on the multi‑billion‑dollar rocket and launch tower.

From BBC

“Henry Ford Hospital” from 1932 offers an unsparing look at the artist following a miscarriage, in which blood vessels fan out like ribbons and objects like snails hint at the slowness of her recovery.

From The Wall Street Journal

Then some late lingonberries; a couple of snails; a clutch of yellow bog-mushrooms -a bit maggoty, but not too bad.

From Literature

“I’ll put me feet on one wall at night and me head on the other without having to curl over like a snail in the house with three brothers.”

From Literature

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

Related Words

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