Shovel

Pronunciation: /ˈʃʌvəl/

Definitions of shovel

noun a tool with a handle and a broad scoop or blade for digging and moving material such as dirt, coal, snow, or grain

Example Sentences

A1 I use a shovel to dig in my garden.

A2 The farmer used a shovel to clear the snow from the driveway.

B1 The construction worker grabbed a shovel to start digging the foundation.

B2 She bought a new shovel for her gardening projects.

C1 The archaeologist carefully used a shovel to uncover ancient artifacts.

C2 The mountaineers carried shovels to help clear the path through the snow.

Examples of shovel in a Sentence

formal The gardener used a shovel to dig up the soil for planting.

informal Can you pass me that shovel so I can start digging?

slang I'll grab the shovel and we can bury this problem once and for all.

figurative She had to shovel through piles of paperwork to find the right document.

Grammatical Forms of shovel

• past tense: shoveled
• plural: shovels
• comparative: more shovel
• superlative: most shovel
• present tense: shovels
• future tense: will shovel
• perfect tense: have shoveled
• continuous tense: is shoveling
• singular: shovel
• positive degree: shovel
• infinitive: to shovel
• gerund: shoveling
• participle: shoveled

Origin and Evolution of shovel

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'shovel' originated from the Old English word 'scofl' or 'scofla', which was derived from the Old High German word 'schaufala'.

Evolution of the word: Originally used to refer to a tool for digging or moving material, the word 'shovel' has evolved to also include various types of digging and scooping implements, as well as being used metaphorically in expressions like 'shoveling food into one's mouth'.