I. shov ‧ el 1 /ˈʃʌv ə l/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: scofl ]
1 . a tool with a rounded blade and a long handle used for moving earth, stones etc SYN spade
2 . a part of a large vehicle or machine used for moving or digging earth
II. shovel 2 BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle shovelled , present participle shovelling British English , shoveled , shoveling American English ) [transitive]
1 . to lift and move earth, stones etc with a shovel:
The workmen shovelled gravel onto the road.
They were out in freezing conditions shovelling snow off the pitch.
shovel the driveway/sidewalk etc American English (=shovel snow from a road or path)
Everyone was out shoveling their sidewalks.
2 . shovel something into/onto something to put something, usually food, somewhere quickly:
We shovelled food into our mouths as fast as we could.