paddle

noun

/ˈpædl/

Idioms

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[countable] a short pole with a flat wide part at one or both ends, that you hold in both hands and use for moving a small boat, especially a canoe, through water compare oarTopics Transport by waterc1, Sports: water sportsc1
[countable] a tool or part of a machine that is like a paddle in shape, especially one used for mixing food
a paddle
[singular] (British English) an act or period of walking in shallow water with no shoes or socks
- Let's go for a paddle.
see also dog-paddle
[countable] (North American English) a bat used for playing table tennis
[countable] (North American English) a piece of wood with a handle, used in the past for hitting children as a punishment

Word Originnoun senses 1 to 2 and noun senses 4 to 5 late Middle English (denoting a small spade-like implement): of unknown origin. Current senses date from the 17th cent. noun sense 3 mid 16th cent.: of obscure origin; compare with Low German paddeln ‘tramp about’; the association with water remains unexplained.

Idioms

up the creek (without a paddle)

(informal) in a difficult or bad situation
- If they won't accept my credit card, I'll really be up the creek.

paddle

verb

/ˈpædl/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they paddle	/ˈpædl/ /ˈpædl/
he / she / it paddles	/ˈpædlz/ /ˈpædlz/
past simple paddled	/ˈpædld/ /ˈpædld/
past participle paddled	/ˈpædld/ /ˈpædld/
-ing form paddling	/ˈpædlɪŋ/ /ˈpædlɪŋ/

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[intransitive, transitive] to move a small boat through water using a paddle
- (+ adv./prep.) We paddled downstream for about a mile.
- paddle something (+ adv./prep.) We paddled the canoe along the coast.
Topics Transport by waterc1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- frantically
- furiously
See full entry
(British English)
(North American English wade)
[intransitive] to walk or stand with no shoes or socks in shallow water in the sea, a lake, etc.
- The children have gone paddling.
Topics Hobbiesb2
[intransitive] to swim with short movements of your hands or feet up and down
Wordfinder
- armband
- dive
- flipper
- float
- goggles
- length
- paddle
- stroke
- swim
- water wings
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- frantically
- furiously
See full entry
[transitive] paddle somebody/something (North American English) to hit a child with a flat piece of wood as a punishment

Word Originverb sense 1 and verb senses 3 to 4 late Middle English (denoting a small spade-like implement): of unknown origin. Current senses date from the 17th cent. verb sense 2 mid 16th cent.: of obscure origin; compare with Low German paddeln ‘tramp about’; the association with water remains unexplained.