noun
trawl
trawl
Trawl (noun) means a large net dragged behind a boat to catch fish. Example: “The crew hauled in the trawl full of cod.”
noun
1
A large net dragged behind a boat to catch fish.
"The crew hauled in the trawl full of cod."
verb
1
To fish by dragging a net through the water.
"The boats trawl for shrimp off the coast."
2
To search thoroughly through a large amount of material.
"She trawled through years of old emails looking for the contract."
How to use trawl
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo trawl is to drag a net for fish, or, more loosely, to search slowly and thoroughly through a lot of stuff.
Common pairings
trawl the internet
trawl through records
a fishing trawl
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Word forms
- Plural
- trawls
- Third person singular
- trawls
- Past tense
- trawled
Fill the gap
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The crew hauled in the _____ full of cod.
Etymology
From Dutch tragelen, "to pull with a towline" — related to "drag" and "dray."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for trawl
See all rhymes for trawl →Frequently asked questions
What does “trawl” mean?
The word “trawl” means a large net dragged behind a boat to catch fish. In plain terms, to trawl is to drag a net for fish, or, more loosely, to search slowly and thoroughly through a lot of stuff.
How do you pronounce “trawl”?
“Trawl” is pronounced trawl (/tɹɔːl/ in IPA).
How do you use “trawl” in a sentence?
Here is “trawl” used in a sentence: “The crew hauled in the trawl full of cod.”
What part of speech is “trawl”?
Depending on how it is used, “trawl” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “trawl” come from?
The word “trawl” comes from Dutch. From Dutch tragelen, "to pull with a towline" — related to "drag" and "dray.".
How many meanings does “trawl” have?
“Trawl” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large net dragged behind a boat to catch fish.
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