auger

What is the opposite of auger? Here is what we hold, with its meaning and related words.

Noun — A tool with a spiralling metal shaft used for boring holes in wood, ice or ground, turned by hand with a brace or driven by a machine.

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A tool with a spiralling metal shaft used for boring holes in wood, ice or ground, turned by hand with a brace or driven by a machine.

“He drilled the fence-post holes with a petrol auger.”

drill bit borer gimlet screw bit wimble snake

2. noun

A rotating helical screw inside a tube or trough that moves loose material such as grain, snow, wood pellets or concrete along its length.

“The auger feeds pellets from the hopper into the burn pot.”

screw conveyor feed screw

3. verb

To bore or drill a hole using such a tool.

“We augered a dozen holes along the boundary before lunch.”

bore drill

How to use auger

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

ice auger earth auger post hole auger auger bit auger flighting

Neutral. Standard in construction, farming, drilling and heating.

Etymology

From Old English nafogar, literally 'nave-borer', a tool for piercing a wheel hub. The initial n was lost when 'a nauger' was reanalysed as 'an auger'.

Full origin of auger →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between auger and augur?

An auger is a drilling or conveying tool. To augur is to be a sign of something to come, most often in the phrase 'augurs well' or 'augurs badly'. They sound the same, which is why the spelling error is so common.

What is the difference between an auger and a drill?

A drill is the machine that supplies the turning power; an auger is a specific kind of bit or shaft with a wide continuous spiral. That spiral clears waste out of the hole as it cuts, which is why augers suit deep holes in wood, soil and ice.

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Nearby words

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