trowel

/ˈtraʊəl/ (bre, ipa) · [trˈaʊwɛl] /ˈtraʊəl/ (ame, ipa) · [trˈaʊwɛl] /ˈtrau̇(-ə)l How to pronounce trowel (audio)/ (ame, mw)

trowel — noun

  • trowelsingular
  • trowelsplural

1. a builder's tool made of a metal plate fixed to a handle, for putting wet mixes

1.名詞B1
釋義

a builder's tool made of a metal plate fixed to a handle, for putting wet mixes like mortar, plaster, or cement onto surfaces and making them level

例句

Hana spread fresh cement over the bricks with a flat steel trowel.

spread + over: typical preposition for a builder's trowel

The builder smoothed wet plaster across the wall with a trowel.

同義詞
  • float

    a larger flat-bladed tool used for smoothing plaster across wide surfaces, not for detailed work

常見錯誤

I used a spatula to spread the cement.
I used a trowel to spread the cement.
💡a spatula is for cooking and baking; a trowel is for building work.

2. a gardener's hand-held scoop with a blade that bends to a point, for making smal

2.名詞B1
釋義

a gardener's hand-held scoop with a blade that bends to a point, for making small holes in the earth, moving seedlings, and breaking up dirt

例句

Ife knelt down and dug a small hole with her garden trowel.

garden trowel: the common collocation to distinguish from a builder's trowel

Sivan used a trowel to lift the young tomato plants from the tray.

同義詞
  • hand spade

    a similar small digging tool, but with a straighter, less curved blade

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense noun/1 (BUILDING TOOL): a garden trowel has a curved, pointed blade for digging, while a builder's trowel has a flat blade for spreading materials.

常見錯誤

I dug the hole with a shovel.
I dug the hole with a trowel.
💡a trowel is for small holes in soft soil; a shovel is for larger digging jobs.

trowel — verb