pud ‧ dle /ˈpʌdl/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Origin: Probably from Old English pudd 'ditch' ]
a small pool of liquid, especially rainwater:
Children splashed through the puddles.
puddle of
He had fallen asleep, his head resting in a puddle of beer.
—puddle verb [intransitive] literary :
Rain trickled down the glass, puddling on the window sills.
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THESAURUS
▪ lake a large area of water surrounded by land:
Lake Michigan
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We went for a swim in the lake.
▪ lagoon an area of water that is separated from the sea by rocks, sand, or ↑ coral :
a tropical lagoon
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coastal lagoons
▪ loch in Scotland, a lake or an area of sea water that is almost completely surrounded by land:
Loch Ness
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a sea loch
▪ reservoir a lake, especially an artificial one, where water is stored before it is supplied to people's houses:
The reservoirs supply water to Greater Manchester.
▪ pond a small area of fresh water that is smaller than a lake, which is either natural or artificially made:
There were several ducks on the village pond.
▪ pool a small area of still water in a hollow place:
a pool of water near the summit of the mountain
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a rockpool (=a pool in some rocks near the sea)
▪ puddle a very small area of water on the ground, especially after it has been raining:
She turned quickly to avoid stepping in a puddle.
▪ waterhole a small area of water in a dry country, where wild animals go to drink:
The waterhole is used by elephants.