WordGarden.iopaddle
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /pˈædəl/
US
- /ˈpædəl/
Meanings
Noun
a short oar with a broad blade used to move a small boat through water
a flat bat used to hit the ball in games such as table tennis or pickleball
Verb
to move a small boat through water with a paddle
to move or splash about in shallow water
to hit or punish someone with a paddle
Beyond the definition
A paddle is not just for canoes. It is the flat blade on a handle that you use to push water and move a boat forward, like in a kayak, canoe, or on a paddleboard. But "paddle" is also a common verb: you might paddle with your hands in the water while swimming, as in the classic doggy paddle, or simply walk and splash in shallow water. It can also mean a flat bat used in games like table tennis or pickleball. There is also an older meaning: a flat wooden tool once used for spanking, though this use is now much less common. Whether you are crossing a lake or just cooling your feet at the edge of the sea, "paddling" suggests gentle, steady movement.
A paddle is most commonly known as the tool used to propel small boats like canoes, kayaks, and rafts. Unlike an oar, which is typically secured to a boat in a fixed position, a paddle is held freely in your hands. It consists of a broad blade at one or both ends of a handle, allowing you to dip it into the water and push against the current to move yourself forward. Imagine the tranquility of rhythmically paddling a kayak across a glassy lake—that's the quintessential image of the word.
However, "paddle" is a remarkably versatile term. As a verb, it describes simple swimming motions, such as the "doggy paddle" used by beginners to stay afloat, or the act of walking through shallow water. In the world of sports, a "paddle" is also the solid racket used in games like table tennis (ping-pong) or pickleball.
Historically and somewhat controversially, the word also refers to a flat wooden instrument used for corporal punishment. While you might encounter this in older literature or historical contexts, it is viewed quite negatively today and is far less common. Finally, you will find the word used for things that resemble the tool's shape, such as the "paddle shifters" used to change gears in modern sports cars or the flat, paddle-like flippers of a sea turtle. Whether you are in the middle of a lake, on a tennis court, or behind the wheel of a car, "paddle" is a word rooted in the concepts of movement and control.
Examples
- 1
Canoeing
She dipped the paddle into the lake and pushed the canoe away from the dock.
- 2
River travel
We paddled slowly along the river until the rain started.
- 3
Kayaking
It takes practice to paddle a kayak in a straight line.
- 4
Shallow water
The children took off their shoes and paddled in the shallow water.
- Patternpaddle in + shallow water
walk or play in it
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Sports equipment
He bought a new paddle for his first pickleball lesson.
- Domain
in pickleball or table tennis, a paddle is a small racket
- 6
Auction bidding
At the auction, bidders raised their paddles when they wanted to make an offer.
- Phraseauction paddle
a numbered sign used for bidding
- 7
Basic swimming
I never learned a proper swimming stroke, so I just doggy-paddled to the edge.
- Phrasedoggy-paddle
swim with short, simple movements like a dog
- 8
Serious trouble
When the engine died miles from shore, we were up the creek without a paddle.
- Phraseup the creek without a paddle
in serious trouble, with no easy way out
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- paddlenounverb
Forms
- paddling-ing formverbnoun
- paddlespluralnounverb
- paddledpast tenseverbnoun