paddle

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈpædəl/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈpædəl/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(padl)

Inflections of 'paddle' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
paddles
v 3rd person singular
paddling
v pres p
paddled
v past
paddled
v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
pad•dle1 /ˈpædəl/USA pronunciation   n., v., -dled, -dling. 
n. [countable]
  1. Nautical, Naval Termsa short, flat-bladed oar for moving and steering a canoe or small boat.
  2. any similar item used for mixing, stirring, or beating.
  3. a racket with a short handle and a wide, rounded front surface, used in table tennis, etc.
  4. Nautical, Naval Termsa blade or part of a wheel moved by the action of water rushing past it, or by an engine that pushes it through water:a paddle wheel boat.

v. 
  1. Nautical, Naval Termsto (cause to) move in a canoe or the like by using a paddle: [no object]paddled across the lake in the canoe.[+ object]He paddled the canoe across the lake.
  2. to spank with or as if with a paddle:[+ object]threatened to paddle the naughty child.
pad•dler, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
pad•dle1  (padl),USA pronunciation n., v., -dled, -dling. 
n. 
    1. Naval Terms, a short, flat bladed oar for propelling and steering a canoe or small boat, usually held by both hands and moved more or less through a vertical arc.
    2. any of various similar implements used for mixing, stirring, or beating.
    3. Sport, any of various similar but smaller implements with a short handle for holding in one hand and a wide or rounded blade, used for a racket in table tennis, paddle tennis, etc.
    4. such an implement or a similarly shaped makeshift one, used to spank or beat someone.
    5. Anthropology, an implement used for beating garments while washing them in running water, as in a stream.
    6. Naval Terms, Also called float, floatboard. a blade of a paddle wheel.
    7. Naval Terms, See paddle wheel. 
    8. Naval Terms, any of the blades by which a water wheel is turned.
    9. Zoologya flipper or limb of a penguin, turtle, whale, etc.
    10. an act of paddling.
    11. British TermsAlso, pattle. Brit. Dial. a small spade with a long handle, used to dig up thistles.
    12. Civil Engineering(in a gate of a lock or sluice) a panel that slides to permit the passage of water.

    v.i. 
    1. Naval Terms, to propel or travel in a canoe or the like by using a paddle.
    2. Naval Terms, to row lightly or gently with oars.
    3. Naval Terms, to move by means of paddle wheels, as a steamer.

    v.t. 
    1. to propel with a paddle: to paddle a canoe.
    2. to spank or beat with or as with a paddle.
    3. to stir, mix, or beat with or as with a paddle
    4. to convey by paddling, as a canoe.
    5. Sportto hit (a table-tennis ball or the like) with a paddle.
    6. Idioms paddle one's own canoe. See canoe (def. 3).
    • late Middle English padell (noun, nominal) 1375–1425
    paddler, n. 

pad•dle2  (padl),USA pronunciation v.i., -dled, -dling. 
  1. to move the feet or hands playfully in shallow water;
    dabble.
  2. to toy with the fingers.
  3. to toddle.
  • origin, originally uncertain 1520–30
paddler, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
paddle / ˈpædəl/
  1. a short light oar with a flat blade at one or both ends, used without a rowlock to propel a canoe or small boat
  2. Also called: float a blade of a water wheel or paddle wheel
  3. a period of paddling: to go for a paddle upstream
  4. a paddle wheel used to propel a boat
  5. (as modifier): a paddle steamer
  6. any of various instruments shaped like a paddle and used for beating, mixing, etc
  7. a table-tennis bat
  8. the flattened limb of a seal, turtle, or similar aquatic animal, specialized for swimming
  1. to propel (a canoe, small boat, etc) with a paddle
  2. paddle one's own canoe to be self-sufficient
  3. to mind one's own business
  4. (transitive) to stir or mix with or as if with a paddle
  5. to row (a boat) steadily, esp (of a racing crew) to row firmly but not at full pressure
  6. (intransitive) to swim with short rapid strokes, like a dog
  7. (transitive) to spank
Etymology: 15th Century: of unknown origin
ˈpaddler
paddle / ˈpædəl/(mainly intr)
  • to walk or play barefoot in shallow water, mud, etc
  • to dabble the fingers, hands, or feet in water
  • to walk unsteadily, like a baby
  • (transitive) to fondle with the fingers
    1. the act of paddling in water
    Etymology: 16th Century: of uncertain originˈpaddler
    'paddle' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
    Collocations: comes with a paddle controller, [increase, up] the paddle strokes, [dropped, lost] the paddle, more...

    Forum discussions with the word(s) "paddle" in the title:


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