noun
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.”
noun
1
A tube you hold in your mouth or fit to a diving mask so you can breathe while your face is underwater.
"She grabbed a mask and snorkel to look at the coral reef."
"She used a snorkel to breathe while swimming underwater."
"They wore snorkels while exploring the coral reef."
verb
1
To swim or explore underwater using a snorkel.
"We snorkeled along the reef for almost two hours."
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.
Common pairings
mask and snorkel
go snorkeling
snorkel gear
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Word forms
- Plural
- snorkels
- Third person singular
- snorkels
- Past tense
- snorkelled, snorkeled
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
View more →Related words
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.
