auger
8 synonyms and 0 antonyms for auger, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
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
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
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.”
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.”
How to Use Auger
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
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.