noun
shingle
SHIHNG-guhl
Shingle (noun) means a thin, often overlapping piece of roofing or wall covering material. Example: “Several shingles blew off the roof in the storm.”
noun
1
A thin, often overlapping piece of roofing or wall covering material.
"Several shingles blew off the roof in the storm."
2
A small signboard, especially one advertising a professional office.
"The lawyer hung out her shingle after opening her own practice."
3
Small, smooth pebbles found on a beach, or a beach covered in them.
"They walked carefully over the shingle toward the sea."
verb
1
To cover a roof or wall with shingles.
"The roofers shingled the whole house in a single day."
How to use shingle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small overlapping roof tile, or (unrelated sense) loose smooth beach pebbles.
Common pairings
wood shingles
hang out a shingle
a shingle beach
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like shingle.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- shingles
- Third person singular
- shingles
- Past tense
- shingled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Several _____ blew off the roof in the storm.
Etymology
From Old English sċindel, ultimately from Latin scandula, related to a root meaning "to split" — early shingles were split from wood.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for shingle
See all rhymes for shingle →Frequently asked questions
What does “shingle” mean?
The word “shingle” means a thin, often overlapping piece of roofing or wall covering material. In plain terms, a small overlapping roof tile, or (unrelated sense) loose smooth beach pebbles.
How do you pronounce “shingle”?
“Shingle” is pronounced SHIHNG-guhl (/ˈʃɪŋ.ɡəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “shingle” in a sentence?
Here is “shingle” used in a sentence: “Several shingles blew off the roof in the storm.”
What part of speech is “shingle”?
Depending on how it is used, “shingle” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “shingle” come from?
The word “shingle” comes from Latin. From Old English sċindel, ultimately from Latin scandula, related to a root meaning "to split" — early shingles were split from wood.
How many meanings does “shingle” have?
“Shingle” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a thin, often overlapping piece of roofing or wall covering material.
