dredge

verb (1)

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\ ˈdrej

\

dredged; dredging

Definition of dredge

(Entry 1 of 3)

transitive verb

1a : 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 updredge 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 updredging up memories

intransitive verb

1 : to use a dredge dredging for oysters

2 : to search deeply

dredge

noun

Definition of dredge (Entry 2 of 3)

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

verb (2)

dredged; dredging

Definition of dredge (Entry 3 of 3)

transitive verb

: to coat by sprinkling (as with flour) dredge the chicken in flour The fish is dredged with a cornmeal mixture and fried.

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Examples of dredge in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Firms like InstantCheckMate, Truthfinder or SentryLink can dredge up records quickly. — The Economist, "Why states are rushing to seal tens of millions of old criminal records," 14 Nov. 2019 But every proceeding in the case dredges up memories. — Tribune Media Services, al, "Alabama man accused of sexually abusing 17 Georgia boarding school students," 12 Nov. 2019 The Army Corps of Engineers, working by the direction of FEMA, dredged 497,400 cubic yards of debris from the mouth bar. — Savannah Mehrtens, Houston Chronicle, "Houston files application to finish dredging Kingwood mouth bar," 12 Nov. 2019 Over a century ago, the 80-foot-long scow was dredging for a tugboat along the Niagara River, upstream from Niagara Falls. — Christina Goldbaum, New York Times, "Boat Stuck at Niagara Falls Moves for First Time Since 1918," 5 Nov. 2019 The very word dredges up one of the ugliest moments in our history when black men — and women — were hanged by white authorities to intimidate citizens who only wanted to vote, run businesses and own their own land. — Leonard Greene, Twin Cities, "Leonard Greene: Political ‘victims’ who create their own problems need to stop saying they were ‘lynched’ and find a different word," 31 Oct. 2019 For weeks afterward, the dead were dredged from the mud. — Washington Post, "Brazilian police file first criminal charges over deadly dam collapse," 21 Sep. 2019 The lake, near Dallas Love Field, has never been dredged. — Hayat Norimine, Dallas News, "'It's time': Dallas council member pushes for White Rock Lake dredging," 10 Aug. 2019 Maryland Ocean City: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is dredging the city’s inlet. — USA TODAY, "Emoji house, Saharan dust, turtle crossing: News from around our 50 states," 8 Aug. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Most are still harvested the way oysters are on Mr. Jurisich’s leases: by fishers using chain-pulley dredges, tongs or their bare hands to pull oysters from shallow waters. — Brett Anderson, New York Times, "Gulf Oysters Are Dying, Putting a Southern Tradition at Risk," 12 Nov. 2019 Remove the oysters from the buttermilk and place them in the cornmeal dredge. — CBS News, "The Dish: Chef Whitney Otawka of Greyfield Inn," 2 Nov. 2019 And in mid-September, a combined force from FUNAI, IBAMA, and the federal police destroyed nearly 60 gold dredges operating illegally on the Jutai River, on the eastern flank of Javari reserve. — Scott Wallace, National Geographic, "Murder in the Amazon heightens fears for isolated tribes," 27 Sep. 2019 The singer, actress, entrepreneur, and mother has managed to dodge the dredges of irrelevancy by reinventing herself as the times change. — Shalwah Evans, Essence, "Jennifer Lopez Says Warren Buffett Sparked Inspiration For Her New Fragrance," 27 Sep. 2019 Working with 1 piece at a time, dredge in flour mixture, shaking off excess, then dip in buttermilk mixture, letting excess drip back into bowl. — Bill St. John, The Denver Post, "Get Cooking: Colombian exchange — the chicken," 25 Sep. 2019 Small suction dredges continue to operate just offshore. — Anchorage Daily News, "As Bering Sea ice melts, Alaskans, scientists and Seattle’s fishing fleet witness changes ‘on a massive scale’," 17 Sep. 2019 Small suction dredges continue to operate just offshore. — Hal Bernton, The Seattle Times, "As Bering Sea ice melts, Alaskans, scientists and Seattle’s fishing fleet witness changes ‘on a massive scale’," 15 Sep. 2019 The Dressing Room The fine bun, crisp slaw and juicy chicken would be plenty, but the standout element of this sandwich is the dredge — light, flaky and beautifully seasoned with a subtly distinctive spice blend. — Dominic Armato, azcentral, "Forget Popeyes and Chick-fil-A. These 13 chicken sandwiches in metro Phoenix are better," 28 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dredge.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.