row-boat

A family rows a row-boat across a calm lake.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small boat propelled by oars: A "row-boat" is a watercraft designed to be moved through water using oars, typically operated by one or more people pulling on the oars in a coordinated manner. It is a simple, manually powered vessel often used for recreation, fishing, or short-distance transport on calm waters like lakes, ponds, or rivers.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • We rented a row-boat for the afternoon to explore the lake. (A small boat with oars for moving across the water.)
  • The old row-boat had two wooden oars and a small bench for the rower. (A manually propelled boat with oars.)

Advanced Usage

• "to row a row-boat": to operate a row-boat by pulling on the oars.
  • He learned to row a row-boat during his summer camp. (He practiced using oars to move the boat forward.)

Variants and Related Words

• Rowing boat (n): an alternative spelling of "row-boat", meaning the same thing—a boat propelled by oars.

  • They purchased a new rowing boat for their weekend trips. (A boat with oars for rowing.)

• Rower (n): a person who rows a boat.

  • The rower pulled the oars steadily across the calm water. (The person operating the oars.)

• Rowing (n): the activity or sport of propelling a boat with oars.

  • Rowing is an excellent full-body exercise. (The sport or action of using oars.)

Synonyms

• Oar-powered boat: a boat moved by oars.

  • An oar-powered boat is ideal for quiet lakes. (A boat using oars for propulsion.)

• Scull: a type of small, light rowing boat, often used in racing, but also a synonym in broader contexts.

  • He owned a scull for competitive rowing. (A small, fast rowing boat.)

Related Idioms

• "to miss the boat": to fail to take advantage of an opportunity (not directly related to row-boat but uses "boat").

  • If you don't apply now, you'll miss the boat. (You will lose the chance.)

• "to rock the boat": to cause trouble or disrupt a stable situation (again, a boat-related idiom).

  • Don't rock the boat by raising controversial topics now. (Do not disturb the current peace.)

Note: The word "row-boat" itself is a compound noun, and its usage is straightforward without additional phrasal verbs or idioms specific to the term.