mallet

/ˈmælɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmælɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈma-lət/ (ame, mw)

mallet — noun

  • malletsingular
  • malletsplural

1. a hand tool that looks like a hammer, except its broad head is made from soft ma

1.名詞B2
釋義

a hand tool that looks like a hammer, except its broad head is made from soft material — wood, plastic, or rubber — so it can press chisels or fit parts together without marking the surface.

例句

Liam tapped the chisel gently with a wooden mallet to carve the door frame.

collocation: tap with a mallet

The carpenter chose a rubber mallet to fit the tiles without cracking them.

collocation: rubber mallet for delicate work

同義詞
  • hammer

    broader term; usually metal-headed, used for nails rather than chisels

  • gavel

    small ceremonial mallet used by judges and auctioneers

文法句型

a mallet

rubber/wooden mallet

用法筆記

Subject is usually a person doing manual work; object of strike is usually fragile or finished surfaces (tiles, wooden joints, chisels). Distinguish from sense 2 by setting — workshops and home repair, not sports fields.

常見錯誤

Asher hit the nail with a mallet.
Asher hit the nail with a hammer.
💡use a hammer (metal head) for nails; a mallet's soft head is for chisels and joints.

2. a long-shafted stick with a cylinder-shaped wooden head at one end, swung by a p

2.名詞C1
釋義

a long-shafted stick with a cylinder-shaped wooden head at one end, swung by a player to drive a ball during games like croquet or polo.

例句

Nikhil leaned forward in the saddle and swung his mallet at the polo ball.

collocation: swing a mallet at a ball

Cyrus chose a lighter mallet for the croquet match on the back lawn.

同義詞
  • club

    general term for a sports stick; golf uses clubs, polo uses mallets

  • stick

    informal alternative; works for hockey and lacrosse, not croquet

文法句型

a mallet

polo/croquet mallet

用法筆記

Subject is usually a player; the action verb is typically swing, strike, or hold. Distinguish from sense 1 (the carpenter's tool) by the sporting context — polo, croquet, or similar lawn games.

常見錯誤

Nadia hit the golf ball with her mallet.
Nadia hit the golf ball with her club.
💡golf uses clubs, not mallets; mallets are for croquet and polo.

3. a slim wooden stick with a small round head wrapped in yarn, felt, or rubber, he

3.名詞C1
釋義

a slim wooden stick with a small round head wrapped in yarn, felt, or rubber, held by a percussionist to strike bars or drum heads on instruments such as the marimba or vibraphone.

例句

Christopher chose soft yarn mallets to bring out a warm tone on the marimba.

collocation: yarn mallets for warm tone

Hyun gripped a mallet in each hand and struck the vibraphone bars in steady rhythm.

collocation: grip a mallet, strike bars

同義詞
  • drumstick

    wooden stick with no padded head; for snare drums and kits

  • beater

    general term for any padded striker, including timpani mallets

文法句型

a mallet

soft/hard mallet

用法筆記

Subject is usually a percussionist; the action verb is typically strike or play with. Often paired with the instrument name (marimba mallet, timpani mallet). Distinguish from sense 1 by the percussion context.

常見錯誤

Talia hit the drum with a mallet.
Talia hit the snare drum with a stick.
💡snare drums use sticks; mallets are for tuned percussion like marimbas and timpani.