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C1Pronunciation
UK
- /snˈeɪl/
US
- /ˈsneɪl/
Meanings
Noun
a small soft-bodied mollusk that usually has a spiral shell
(informal)a person or thing that moves or progresses very slowly
Beyond the definition
A snail is a small, soft-bodied animal, often seen in gardens, known for its spiral shell and very slow movement. It can seem like a tiny traveler carrying its home on its back. Some eat leaves and become unwanted visitors in the garden, while others help break down dead plant matter. In everyday English, if someone moves or works very slowly, people may say they are moving "at a snail's pace."
The word also appears in "snail mail," a common and humorous way to talk about regular postal mail when compared with email or texting.
Snails are mollusks, a large group of animals that also includes clams and octopuses. Many kinds live in the sea, but the ones people usually notice are land snails and freshwater snails. Most are recognized by their coiled shell, which gives protection and, in land species, also helps reduce water loss. They move with one muscular foot and leave behind a shiny trail of mucus, which helps them glide over rough surfaces and protects their soft bodies.
While they are often seen as pests because they eat garden plants, they also help their habitats stay healthy. They break down decaying matter and are food for birds, frogs, insects, and small mammals. In some places, certain kinds are even eaten as food, most famously in the French dish escargot.
The image of a snail is often used in English as a symbol of slowness. To say someone is "slow as a snail" suggests very slow movement, and a "snail's pace" means slow, sometimes frustrating progress. The word can describe the animal itself, but it also appears in figurative language and everyday phrases. Whether you are watching one cross a path, finding one in the garden after rain, or joking about slow mail, the snail suggests quiet, steady movement.
Examples
- 1
Animal
A small snail was making its way across the sidewalk after the rain.
- 2
Garden pests
We had to protect the lettuce because snails had eaten the leaves.
- 3
Postal mail
I'll send you the signed form by snail mail.
- Phrasesnail mail
regular mail sent by post, not email
- 4
Slow movement
The line at the airport was moving at a snail's pace.
- Phraseat a snail's pace
very slowly
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- snailnounverb
Forms
- snailspluralnounverb