Definition

1. Noun:

   • A hand tool for lifting and moving loose material: A shovel is a tool consisting of a broad, curved or flat blade attached to a handle, used for digging, lifting, and moving materials like soil, snow, or coal.
   • The quantity a shovel can hold: This refers to the amount of material that fills the scoop of a shovel.
   • A machine for excavating: In industrial contexts, a shovel can refer to a large, powered machine used for digging, such as a power shovel or steam shovel.
   • A small scoop for fireplace ashes: A specific type of small shovel, often made of metal, used for handling coals or ashes in a fireplace.

2. Verb:

   • To lift and move material with a shovel: The primary action of using a shovel as a tool.
   • To move or clear something as if using a shovel: This can describe a vigorous, often hurried, action of moving something in large quantities, not necessarily with an actual shovel.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • He used a shovel to clear the snow from the driveway.
  • The recipe calls for two shovels of gravel for the garden path.
  • The construction site brought in a massive hydraulic shovel.
  • She used the fireplace shovel to remove the ashes.

• Verb:

  • We need to shovel the sidewalk before it gets icy.
  • He shoveled sand into the wheelbarrow all morning.
  • She shoveled the papers into her briefcase and rushed out the door.

Advanced Usage

• "To shovel something into something": To put something somewhere quickly and in large amounts, often carelessly.
  • The kids shoveled popcorn into their mouths during the movie.
• "To shovel it" (informal/slang): To accept or deal with something unpleasant, often a large amount of work or criticism.
  • After the mistake, he had to shovel a lot of blame from his boss.

Variants and Related Words

• Shovelful (n): The amount that a shovel can hold.
  • He added a shovelful of compost to the hole.
• Shoveler/Shoveller (n): A person who shovels.
  • The snow shovellers worked through the night.
• Power shovel (n): A large, mechanical digging machine.
• Steam shovel (n): An early type of excavating machine powered by steam.

Synonyms

• Noun (Tool): Spade, scoop.
• Verb (To dig/move): Dig, scoop, excavate.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Shovel out: To clear an area by shoveling.
  • We had to shovel out the garage after the snowstorm.
• Shovel up: To gather and lift material with a shovel.
  • Please shovel up that spilled dirt from the floor.

Related Idioms

• "To have a face like a shovel" (British, informal): To have a long, unattractive, or gloomy-looking face.
  • He came in with a face like a shovel after hearing the bad news.
• "To put to bed with a shovel" (archaic/humorous): A euphemism meaning to bury someone after they have died.

Noun

1. a machine for excavating
2. a fire iron consisting of a small shovel used to scoop coals or ashes in a fireplace
3. the quantity a shovel can hold
4. a hand tool for lifting loose material; consists of a curved container or scoop and a handle

Verb

1. dig with or as if with a shovel
   • shovel sand
   • he shovelled in the backyard all afternoon long