/ ˈʃʌvl; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
a tool with a long handle and a broad blade with curved edges, used for moving earth, snow, sand, etc. :
workmen with picks and shovels
( NAmE )
The children took their pails and shovels to the beach.
—compare spade
2.
the part of a large machine or vehicle that digs or moves earth
■ verb
( -ll- , US -l- ) [ vn ] to lift and move earth, stones, coal, etc. with a shovel :
A gang of workmen were shovelling rubble onto a truck.
They went out in freezing conditions to shovel snow.
( NAmE )
to shovel the sidewalk / driveway (= to remove snow)
( figurative )
He sat at the table, shovelling food into his mouth.
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English scofl , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch schoffel , German Schaufel , also to the verb shove .