Definition of shovel
1a : a hand implement consisting of a broad scoop or a more or less hollowed out blade with a handle used to lift and throw materialb : something that resembles a shovelc : an excavating machine; especially : a hydraulic diesel-engine driven power shovel
2 : shovelful
From the M-W Editors
Recent Examples of shovel from the Web
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A woman hit a juvenile in the face and struck the child in the arm with a shovel.
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Do your math on the back of a coal shovel, the way Abraham Lincoln did.
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Chancellor James Schmidt and Kimera Way, president of UW-Eau Claire's private fundraising foundation and executive director of university advancement, were among two dozen VIPs with ceremonial shovels and hardhats that day.
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In January 2015, D'Anna told police that Alonso broke his storm door window with a shovel, records show.
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Kievman said the Chabad community hopes to have shovels in the ground within the next six months.
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Instead of putting his shovel down, though, Trump worked it furiously.
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Soon, however, these spectators had their platform upset when the shovels continued their clawing to the east as far as Sixth Avenue.
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Chief among those, Steneck said, is to have a shovel and water to quickly extinguish an accidental fire, and a cellphone to report the fire.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shovel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of shovel
Middle English, from Old English scofl; akin to Old High German scūfla shovel, Old English scūfan to thrust away
shovel
Definition of shovel
shoveled
orshovelled
;shoveling
orshovelling
play \ˈshə-və-liŋ, ˈshəv-liŋ\transitive verb
1 : to take up and throw with a shovel
2 : to dig or clean out with a shovel
3 : to throw or convey roughly or in a mass as if with a shovel shoveled his food into his mouth
intransitive verb
: to use a shovel
Examples of shovel in a Sentence
He is outside shoveling snow.
I have to shovel the driveway.
I had to shovel for an hour to clear the driveway.
The snow was so deep we had to shovel a path to our front door.
Stop shoveling food into your mouth.
Recent Examples of shovel from the Web
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This is perhaps the most significant tell: There is no reason to make a tax cut on capital gains/dividends *retroactive* unless your purpose is to shovel money to rich people.
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This is perhaps the most significant tell: There is no reason to make a tax cut on capital gains/dividends *retroactive* unless your purpose is to shovel money to rich people.
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Two other neighbors, Dwayne Lee and Gambrell, said Murray would regularly shovel the snow, mow the lawn and take out the trash.
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Sporting green shirts, volunteers spanned the campus, installing benches, working on playgrounds, painting murals, shoveling wood chips and giving the front office and teacher’s lounge a makeover.
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O’Neal passed the ball to Horry who shoveled it Bryant who snaked toward the basket.
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Flanked by family and friends, Brock’s parents watched as guests took turns shoveling dirt to cover the base of the tree.
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Pokryfke, who had a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate, also turned in one of the Blackhawks' web gems, deftly shoveling the ball sideways to shortstop Grace Hunger to force a runner in the sixth.
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A bulldozer shoveled heaps of debris and unclaimed belongings into a dumpster.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shovel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of shovel
15th century
SHOVEL Defined for English Language Learners
shovel
playDefinition of shovel for English Language Learners
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: a tool with a long handle that is used for lifting and throwing dirt, sand, snow, etc.
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: the part of a machine (such as a backhoe) that picks up and moves dirt, sand, snow, etc.
shovel
Definition of shovel for English Language Learners
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: to lift and throw (dirt, sand, snow, etc.) with a shovel
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: to remove snow from (a sidewalk, driveway, etc.) with a shovel
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: to create (a path) by removing snow with a shovel
SHOVEL Defined for Kids
Definition of shovel for Students
1 : a tool with a long handle and broad scoop used to lift and throw loose material (as dirt or snow)
2 : as much as a shovel will hold a shovel of sand
Definition of shovel for Students
shoveled
orshovelled
;shoveling
orshovelling
1 : to lift or throw with a shovel shovel snow
2 : to dig or clean out with a shovel I shoveled out the sheep pens.
3 : to move large amounts of into something quickly He shoveled food into his mouth.
Learn More about shovel
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See words that rhyme with shovel Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for shovel Spanish Central: Translation of shovel Nglish: Translation of shovel for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of shovel for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shovel
Seen and Heard
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