paddle
/ˈpæd.əl/ (bre, ipa) · [pˈædəl] /ˈpæd.əl/ (ame, ipa)
paddle — noun
- paddlesingular
- paddlesplural
1. a long piece of wood, plastic, or similar material with a wider section at one o
a long piece of wood, plastic, or similar material with a wider section at one or both ends, held in both hands and pushed through water to move small boats, including canoes and kayaks.
Tomás dipped his paddle into the lake and pulled hard toward the island.
paddle + into + water body
The wooden paddle floated on the surface after Nila accidentally dropped it overboard.
adjectival modifier + paddle (e.g. wooden, plastic, canoe)
Each canoe had two paddles stored inside for the passengers to use.
Adina carved her own paddle from a piece of birch wood she found in the forest.
A double-bladed paddle lets you move a kayak faster through rough water.
- oar
attached to the boat via an oarlock; used for rowing, not paddling
文法句型
a paddle
the paddle
plural: paddles
用法筆記
The most common sense of the noun. Unlike an oar, a paddle is not attached to the boat — you hold it freely in your hands and use it on either side.
常見錯誤
2. a flat board fixed to the rim of a wheel on a steamboat or mill that pushes agai
a flat board fixed to the rim of a wheel on a steamboat or mill that pushes against water or air and helps the wheel turn around.
The old steamboat had twelve wooden paddles fixed to each side of its wheel.
fixed to/attached to + wheel
Water splashed over the paddles as the mill wheel began to rotate slowly.
One of the paddles on the water wheel had cracked from years of use.
The engineer examined each paddle on the wheel before starting the engine.
文法句型
a paddle on [a/the] wheel
plural: paddles
用法筆記
Almost always describes a part of a paddle wheel (on steamboats) or a water wheel (in mills). The plural form (paddles) is very common when referring to the full set of blades.
3. a short walk in very shallow water beside a beach, lake, or river for enjoyment
a short walk in very shallow water beside a beach, lake, or river for enjoyment or to cool your feet.
After lunch the children went for a paddle in the shallow water at the beach.
go for a paddle (fixed phrase)
Diya rolled up her trousers and had a paddle along the shoreline.
have a paddle
The old dog loved a quick paddle in the stream behind the house.
Quan took off his shoes and enjoyed a paddle in the cool lake water.
- wade
more common in American English; can also mean walking through deeper water with a purpose (e.g. crossing a river)
文法句型
a paddle
go for a paddle
用法筆記
Primarily British English. In American English, 'wade' or 'wading' is more common for this activity. Used in set phrases such as 'go for a paddle' and 'have a paddle.'
4. a flat tool that has a short grip and a broad end, usually made of wood or plast
a flat tool that has a short grip and a broad end, usually made of wood or plastic, used in cooking for stirring or mixing food or in some sports for hitting a ball.
Romi stirred the chocolate sauce with a wooden paddle until it became smooth.
stir + with + a [material] paddle
The baker used a long paddle to slide the bread onto the hot oven floor.
In table tennis, each player holds a small paddle to hit the ball across the net.
Zayd picked up a plastic paddle and gently mixed the eggs with the sugar.
The wooden paddle that Emily used for the cake batter had been in her family for years.
- spatula
usually flatter and wider; can also refer to a tool for flipping food
- mixing spoon
longer and rounder; not flat like a paddle
文法句型
a paddle
a [wooden/plastic] paddle
用法筆記
In British English, a kitchen paddle is sometimes called a 'spatula' or 'mixing spoon.' In American English, a 'paddle' in sports contexts usually means the bat used in table tennis (also called a 'racket' or 'paddle').
paddle — verb
- paddlepresent simple I / you / we / they
- paddles3rd person singular
- paddling-ing form
- paddledpast simple
1. to move a canoe, kayak, or small boat across water by using a paddle, pushing th
to move a canoe, kayak, or small boat across water by using a paddle, pushing the wide part of it against the water on alternate sides of the boat.
Pedro paddled his canoe across the calm lake in less than an hour.
paddle + object + across [water body]
Diya and Tanvi paddled upstream against the current for almost two kilometres.
paddle + direction (upstream, downstream, along)
The group paddled slowly along the river, watching birds fly overhead.
A single person can paddle a kayak easily if the water is not too rough.
Mizuki paddled hard to reach the shore before the storm arrived.
文法句型
paddle + boat/canoe/kayak
paddle + across/along/down/up + [water body]
paddle (no object)
用法筆記
The most frequent sense of the verb. Often used intransitively (without an object) when the type of boat is clear from context. Directional prepositions (across, along, down, up, toward) are very common with this sense.
常見錯誤
2. to punish a child by striking their buttocks with a flat wooden board to correct
to punish a child by striking their buttocks with a flat wooden board to correct their behaviour.
In some schools in the past, teachers would paddle students who broke the rules.
paddle + student/child as punishment
Nila's grandfather remembered being paddled at school for talking during class.
passive: be paddled at [school]
The parents decided not to paddle their children and chose a gentler way to teach them.
The law now forbids teachers from paddling students in most American states.
- spank
more general term for hitting on the bottom; does not specify a wooden implement
文法句型
paddle + someone
用法筆記
This sense is strongly associated with historical school discipline in the United States. It is now illegal or restricted in many places. The passive form ('was paddled') is common when describing past experiences.
常見錯誤
3. to walk without shoes in very shallow water beside the sea, a lake, or a river,
to walk without shoes in very shallow water beside the sea, a lake, or a river, usually for pleasure or to feel cool.
The children rolled up their shorts and paddled in the cool stream behind the house.
paddle + in [water body]
Nala loved to paddle along the shore while her parents sat on the sand.
We took off our shoes and went paddling at the edge of the lake.
A group of tourists paddled in the shallow water near the pier, laughing and splashing.
Mei-Lin rolled up her jeans and paddled carefully in the shallows, feeling for smooth stones under her feet.
- wade
more common in American English; can also mean walking through deeper water with purpose
文法句型
paddle + in [water body]
go paddling
paddle + barefoot
用法筆記
Primarily British English. In American English, speakers use 'wade' instead. 'Go paddling' is a common fixed expression for this activity. The noun form ('have a paddle') is also frequent.
常見錯誤
4. to swim by making quick up-and-down movements with the arms and legs while keepi
to swim by making quick up-and-down movements with the arms and legs while keeping the head above water, like the way a dog swims.
The puppy fell into the pond and paddled frantically until Theo lifted it out.
context: animal swimming
Romi could not swim properly yet, but she could paddle in the shallow end of the pool.
paddle in the [shallow end] — child/learner swimming
The children paddled around in the swimming pool, splashing water at each other.
Mizuki's younger brother could paddle a short distance across the pool without any help.
After taking lessons, Tomás no longer needed to paddle — he could do the front crawl.
- dog paddle
specifically names the swimming style; can be used as a noun
文法句型
paddle (in water)
go paddling (swimming style)
用法筆記
Often describes the way young children or animals swim before learning proper strokes. The fixed phrase 'dog paddle' (noun) also exists to name this swimming style.
常見錯誤
5. to mix, stir, or beat a substance using a flat-bladed tool, especially in cookin
to mix, stir, or beat a substance using a flat-bladed tool, especially in cooking or in an industrial process.
Emily paddled the thick paint mixture with a wooden stick until it was smooth.
paddle + [substance] + with + [tool]
The machine paddled the cement slowly, keeping it from hardening before use.
In the old days, workers paddled the dye in large vats to make sure the colour spread evenly.
The worker paddled the wet cement in the wheelbarrow to keep it from setting before it reached the moulds.
文法句型
paddle + object
用法筆記
Less common in everyday conversation. In cooking contexts, 'stir' or 'mix' are more frequent. This sense appears mainly in technical or historical descriptions of manual processes.