shovel

/'ʃʌvl/
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shovel

A gardener uses a shovel to dig a hole for a new plant.

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.
shovel

A gardener uses a shovel to dig a hole for a new plant.

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

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