dredge

¹dredge

verb \ˈdrej\

dredgeddredg·ing

Definition of DREDGE

transitive verb

1

a : to dig, gather, or pull out with or as if with a dredge —often used with up

b : to deepen (as a waterway) with a dredging machine

2

: to bring to light by deep searching —often used with up <dredging up memories>

intransitive verb

1

: to use a dredge

2

: to search deeply

— dredg·er noun

First Known Use of DREDGE

1508

Rhymes with DREDGE

edge, fledge, hedge, kedge, ledge, pledge, sedge, sledge, veg, wedge

²dredge

noun

Definition of DREDGE

1

: an apparatus usually in the form of an oblong iron frame with an attached bag net used especially for gathering fish and shellfish

2

: a machine for removing earth usually by buckets on an endless chain or a suction tube

3

: a barge used in dredging

Origin of DREDGE

perhaps from Old English *drecge; akin to Old English dræge dragnet, dragan to draw

First Known Use: 1602

Other Civil Engineering Terms

asphalt, ballast, barrage, cantilever, infrastructure, sluice

³dredge

transitive verb

dredgeddredg·ing

Definition of DREDGE

: to coat (food) by sprinkling (as with flour)

— dredg·er noun

Origin of DREDGE

obsolete dredge, noun, sweetmeat, from Middle English drage, drege, from Anglo-French dragee, modification of Latin tragemata sweetmeats, from Greek tragēmata, plural of tragēma sweetmeat, from trōgein to gnaw

First Known Use: 1596

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel