noun
dredge
drehj
Dredge (noun) means a machine or device used to scoop up material from the bottom of a body of water. Example: “The harbour authority sent out a dredge to clear the silted channel.”
noun
1
A machine or device used to scoop up material from the bottom of a body of water.
"The harbour authority sent out a dredge to clear the silted channel."
verb
1
To clear or deepen a waterway by scooping out mud, sand, or debris.
"They dredged the river to allow larger ships through."
2
To bring up something unpleasant from the past, often followed by "up."
"He dredged up an old argument from years ago."
"Don't dredge up painful memories."
How to use dredge
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo scoop material from a riverbed or seabed, or figuratively, to dig up an old, unwanted memory.
Common pairings
dredge a river
dredge up the past
dredge up memories
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Word forms
- Plural
- dredges
- Third person singular
- dredges
- Past tense
- dredged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The harbour authority sent out a _____ to clear the silted channel.
Etymology
Possibly from Scots dreg-boat ("dredging boat"), or from a Middle Dutch word for a drag-net, ultimately linked to "drag."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for dredge
See all rhymes for dredge →Frequently asked questions
What does “dredge” mean?
The word “dredge” means a machine or device used to scoop up material from the bottom of a body of water. In plain terms, to scoop material from a riverbed or seabed, or figuratively, to dig up an old, unwanted memory.
How do you pronounce “dredge”?
“Dredge” is pronounced drehj (/dɹɛd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “dredge” in a sentence?
Here is “dredge” used in a sentence: “The harbour authority sent out a dredge to clear the silted channel.”
What part of speech is “dredge”?
Depending on how it is used, “dredge” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “dredge” come from?
The word “dredge” comes from Dutch. Possibly from Scots dreg-boat ("dredging boat"), or from a Middle Dutch word for a drag-net, ultimately linked to "drag.".
How many meanings does “dredge” have?
“Dredge” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a machine or device used to scoop up material from the bottom of a body of water.
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