- [countable] a short pole with a flat wide part at one or both ends, that you hold in both hands and use for moving a small boat, especially a canoe, through water compare oarTopics Transport by waterc1, Sports: water sportsc1
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- [countable] a tool or part of a machine that is like a paddle in shape, especially one used for mixing food
- a paddle[singular] (British English) an act or period of walking in shallow water with no shoes or socks
- Let's go for a paddle.
- [countable] (North American English) a bat used for playing table tennis
- [countable] (North American English) a piece of wood with a handle, used in the past for hitting children as a punishment
Word Originnoun senses 1 to 2 and noun senses 4 to 5 late Middle English (denoting a small spade-like implement): of unknown origin. Current senses date from the 17th cent. noun sense 3 mid 16th cent.: of obscure origin; compare with Low German paddeln ‘tramp about’; the association with water remains unexplained.
Idioms
See paddle in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionaryup the creek (without a paddle)
- (informal) in a difficult or bad situation
- If they won't accept my credit card, I'll really be up the creek.
Check pronunciation:
paddle