1 shoal | Definition of shoal

shoal

adjective
\ ˈshōl How to pronounce shoal (audio) \

Definition of shoal

 (Entry 1 of 5)

shoal

noun (1)

Definition of shoal (Entry 2 of 5)

1 : shallow
2 : a sandbank or sandbar that makes the water shallow

shoal

verb (1)
shoaled; shoaling; shoals

Definition of shoal (Entry 3 of 5)

intransitive verb

: to become shallow

transitive verb

1 : to come to a shallow or less deep part of
2 : to cause to become shallow or less deep

shoal

noun (2)

Definition of shoal (Entry 4 of 5)

: a large group or number : crowd a shoal of fish

shoal

verb (2)
shoaled; shoaling; shoals

Definition of shoal (Entry 5 of 5)

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms & Antonyms for shoal

Synonyms: Adjective

depthless, shallow

Antonyms: Adjective

deep

Visit the Thesaurus for More 

Examples of shoal in a Sentence

Adjective

shoal waters of the bay meant that our ship had to be moored a considerable distance from shore

First Known Use of shoal

Adjective

circa 1554, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1574, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (2)

1579, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1610, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for shoal

Adjective

alteration of Middle English shold, from Old English sceald — more at skeleton

Noun (2)

Middle English *shole, from Old English scolu multitude — more at school

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for shoal

shoal

adjective
\ ˈshōl How to pronounce shoal (audio) \
shoaler; shoalest

Kids Definition of shoal

 (Entry 1 of 3)

: shallow entry 1 sense 1 shoal water

shoal

noun

Kids Definition of shoal (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : a place where a sea, lake, or river is shallow
2 : a mound or ridge of sand just below the surface of the water

shoal

noun

Kids Definition of shoal (Entry 3 of 3)

: school entry 3 a shoal of mackerel

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on shoal

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with shoal

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for shoal

Spanish Central: Translation of shoal

Nglish: Translation of shoal for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shoal