shovel Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a hand tool for lifting loose material; consists of a curved container or scoop and a handle
  2. noun the quantity a shovel can hold
    spadeful; shovelful.
  3. noun a fire iron consisting of a small shovel used to scoop coals or ashes in a fireplace
  4. noun a machine for excavating
    power shovel; digger; excavator.
  5. verb dig with or as if with a shovel
    • shovel sand
    • he shovelled in the backyard all afternoon long

WordNet


Shov"el noun
Etymology
OE. shovele, schovele, AS. scoft, sceoft; akin to D. schoffel, G. schaufel, OHG. scvala, Dan. skovl, Sw. skofvel, skyffel, and to E. shove. See Shove, v. t.
Definitions
  1. An implement consisting of a broad scoop, or more or less hollow blade, with a handle, used for lifting and throwing earth, coal, grain, or other loose substances.
Shov"el transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Shoveled or Shovelled; present participle & verbal noun Shoveling or Shovelling
Definitions
  1. To take up and throw with a shovel; as, to shovel earth into a heap, or into a cart, or out of a pit.
  2. To gather up as with a shovel.

Webster 1913