Paddle
/ˈpædəl/
nounverbA2
Definition
As a noun, a paddle is a long, flat tool with a handle used to push water and make small boats move. As a verb, to paddle means to push water with a paddle or your hands and feet to move a boat or yourself in water.
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See It in Action
Noun: A tool to move small boats by pushing water
- •She held the paddle tightly while steering the canoe.
- •The kayak comes with two paddles.
- •The wooden paddle was smooth and light.
Verb: To move a boat by pushing water with a paddle or hands
- •They paddled across the lake at sunset.
- •The children paddled their small boat near the shore.
- •He paddled gently to avoid making noise.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "paddle" like "oar" (A1 word), but usually shorter and used for smaller boats or by hand
- ✓Picture holding a flat stick with a wide end, dipping it into a calm lake and pushing water backward to move forward
- ✓It's the feeling of being on a small boat, quietly moving across water by pushing with a paddle
- ✓Sounds like "PAD-dle" → imagine your hand making soft pads on water while moving the boat gently
- ✓Remember summer days on a lake or river, where kids paddle canoes or kayaks slowly and peacefully
- ✓NOT like "row" (which uses longer oars and a different motion)—paddling is usually simpler and done with one or two paddles by hand
- ✓NOT like "swim" (moving yourself by arms and legs)—paddling moves a boat or helps you float by pushing water with a tool or hands
- ✓NOT like "drive" (using an engine)—paddling is manual, using your own strength and a simple tool
Try Other Words
- •Oar: a long tool used to row boats (Use when the tool is longer and used in rowing motion)
- •Swim: to move through water by moving your body (Use when moving yourself without a boat or tool)
- •Propel: to push forward (Use in formal or general contexts about moving something forward)
- •Steer: to control the direction of a boat or vehicle (Use when focusing on direction, not the action of pushing water)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "paddle" is a simple root word without prefix or suffix
- •Etymology: From Old English "pædel," meaning a tool for pushing or beating
- •Historical development: Originally used for tools to push water or beat cloth; over time, it became mainly associated with boat movement
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in boating and water sports to describe the tool and action of moving small boats or canoes
Reflect & Connect
•How does using a paddle change your experience of moving on water compared to using a motor?
•Can you think of situations where paddling is better than rowing or swimming? Why?
Fill in the blanks
1.To move the canoe, he used the paddle to ___ the water backward and create movement.
2.When the wind stopped, they ___ their boat gently with paddles to keep going.
3.Unlike rowing, paddling usually uses ___ paddles and a different motion.
4.The kids learned to ___ their kayak before trying to go on the river alone.
5.She held the paddle ___ tightly to keep control of the small boat.
6.If you don’t ___ correctly, the boat might not move in the right direction.
7.When the motor broke, they had to ___ the boat all the way to shore.