dredge

1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈdrej 

dredged; dredging

transitive verb

1

a

: to dig, gather, or pull out with or as if with a dredge (see dredge entry 2)

dredging oysters in the bay

—often used with up

dredge up silt from the canal bottom

b

civil engineering : to deepen (a waterway) with a machine that removes earth usually by buckets on an endless chain or a suction tube : to deepen with a dredge (see dredge entry 2 sense 2)

2

: to bring to light by deep searching

—often used with up

dredging up memories

intransitive verb

1

: to use a dredge

dredging for oysters

2

: to search deeply

dredge

2 of 3

noun

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

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

3

nautical : a barge used in dredging

dredge

3 of 3

verb (2)

dredged; dredging

transitive verb

: to coat by sprinkling (as with flour)

dredge the chicken in flour

The fish is dredged with a cornmeal mixture and fried.

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• search
• rake
• comb
• find
• scan

Examples of dredge in a Sentence

Verb (1)

I've been dredging my memory bank, and I simply can't remember her name

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Bastianich’s tips include picking a firm, fresh eggplant, cutting it in thick slices, dredging them in flour and panfrying before draining, cooling, rolling, nestling in the sauce and baking until bubbly. —The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 July 2025

County crews have since dredged nearby canals with hopes of preventing a similar disaster. —Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 June 2025

Noun

Some 20 turbines are being proposed for construction on a peninsula made from dredge spoils. —Llewellyn King, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025

During the dredge’s relocation last year from the East Coast to the West, there were problems with hurricanes. —Barbara Henry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

derivative of dredge entry 2

Noun

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

Verb (2)

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

Verb (1)

1508, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1596, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing dredge

• dredge up

Rhymes for dredge

• edge
• hedge
• ledge
• pledge
• sedge
• sledge
• wedge
• allege
• straightedge

Kids Definition

dredge

1 of 3 verb

ˈdrej 

dredged; dredging

1

a

: to dig, gather, or pull out with or as if with a dredge

dredged up scallops from the sea bottom

b

: to deepen (as a waterway) with a dredge

2

: to bring to light by deep searching

dredging up memories

dredge

2 of 3 noun

1

: an iron frame with an attached net used especially to catch fish or shellfish

2

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

dredge

3 of 3 verb

dredged; dredging

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

Etymology

Noun

probably from Old English dragan "to pull, drag"

Verb

from obsolete dredge (noun) "a candied fruit," derived from early French dragee (same meaning), from Latin tragemata (plural) "candied fruits," from Greek tragēmata (same meaning), derived from trōgein "to gnaw"