Oar
/ɔːr/
nounverbA2
Definition
An oar is a tool used for moving a boat in the water. It is usually a long stick with a flat, wide end called a blade. People use oars by pushing the blade into the water and pulling or pushing to move the boat forward or backward. When used as a verb, "to oar" means to row or move a boat using oars.
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See It in Action
Noun: A long pole with a flat blade used to row a boat
- •The rower held the oar tightly and pushed it into the water.
- •They used two oars to move the small boat across the lake.
- •The old wooden oar was heavy but strong.
Verb: To row or move a boat using oars
- •She oared the boat gently to the shore.
- •We took turns oaring during the trip on the river.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "oar" like "stick," but a special stick with a flat end used to push water and move a boat
- ✓Picture a person sitting in a small boat, holding a long wooden pole with a wide flat end, moving the boat by pushing water backward
- ✓It's like when you push water with your hand to move yourself in a swimming pool, but with a tool to help you go faster and farther
- ✓Sounds like "or" → imagine saying "or" while pushing water hard with a stick to decide which way to go
- ✓In stories or movies, rowboats often have two people using oars to move quietly on a lake or river
- ✓NOT like a paddle (which is shorter and held differently), an oar is longer and usually fixed on the boat by a pivot point
- ✓NOT like a motor (which moves the boat by engine), an oar moves the boat by human power
Try Other Words
- •Paddle: a shorter tool used to move small boats like canoes or kayaks (Use when the boat is small and the tool is held freely)
- •Row: the action of moving a boat with oars (Use when focusing on the action rather than the tool)
- •Scull: to move a boat using a single oar at the back (Use in specific rowing methods)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "oar" is a simple root word without prefix or suffix
- •Etymology: From Old English "ār," meaning a pole or bar used for rowing
- •Historical development: Used for centuries to describe tools for moving boats by hand
- •Modern usage: Still used today for small boats, rowing sports, and as a verb for the action of rowing
Reflect & Connect
•How does using an oar change the way you move a boat compared to using a motor?
•Can you imagine a situation where using an oar would be better than other ways to move a boat?
Fill in the blanks
1.To move the boat forward, you need to push the oar ___ into the water and pull it backward.
2.When the wind stopped, they started to oar the boat because the ___ was not working.
3.Unlike a paddle, an oar is usually longer and attached to the boat with a ___ point.
4.She felt tired after oaring for a long time because it takes a lot of ___.
5.The old man taught his grandson how to hold the oar and ___ the boat gently.
6.When the river was calm, they used oars to move quietly and avoid ___ the fish.
7.To turn the boat right, you need to oar more on the ___ side.