snorkel
Snorkel (noun) means a tube you hold in your mouth or fit to a diving mask so you can breathe while your face is underwater. Example: “She grabbed a mask and snorkel to look at the coral reef.”
How to use snorkel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA breathing tube for swimming face-down at the surface, or the act of swimming that way.
Word forms
snorkelled past tense, snorkeled past tense, snorkels plural, snorkels singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She grabbed a mask and _____ to look at the coral reef.
Etymology
Borrowed from German Schnorchel, related to schnarchen ("to snore") — named for its resemblance to a nose, and possibly for the noise it makes.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “snorkel” mean?
The word “snorkel” means a tube you hold in your mouth or fit to a diving mask so you can breathe while your face is underwater. In plain terms, a breathing tube for swimming face-down at the surface, or the act of swimming that way.
How do you use “snorkel” in a sentence?
Here is “snorkel” used in a sentence: “She grabbed a mask and snorkel to look at the coral reef.”
What part of speech is “snorkel”?
Depending on how it is used, “snorkel” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “snorkel” come from?
The word “snorkel” comes from German. Borrowed from German Schnorchel, related to schnarchen ("to snore") — named for its resemblance to a nose, and possibly for the noise it makes.
How many meanings does “snorkel” have?
“Snorkel” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a tube you hold in your mouth or fit to a diving mask so you can breathe while your face is underwater.