noun
trawling
Trawling (noun) means the practice of catching fish by dragging a large net behind a moving boat. Example: “Trawling near the reef has been banned to protect the coral.”
noun
1
The practice of catching fish by dragging a large net behind a moving boat.
"Trawling near the reef has been banned to protect the coral."
2
A slow, thorough search through a large amount of material.
"After weeks of trawling through the archives, she found the missing deed."
How to use trawling
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTrawling is dragging a net for fish, or by extension, digging slowly through lots of material looking for something.
Common mistake
Not to be confused with "trolling," which uses lines rather than a dragged net (and, online, means something completely different).
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- trawlings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ near the reef has been banned to protect the coral.
Rhymes for trawling
See all rhymes for trawling →Frequently asked questions
What does “trawling” mean?
The word “trawling” means the practice of catching fish by dragging a large net behind a moving boat. In plain terms, trawling is dragging a net for fish, or by extension, digging slowly through lots of material looking for something.
How do you use “trawling” in a sentence?
Here is “trawling” used in a sentence: “Trawling near the reef has been banned to protect the coral.”
What part of speech is “trawling”?
“Trawling” is a noun.
How many meanings does “trawling” have?
“Trawling” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the practice of catching fish by dragging a large net behind a moving boat.
