paddle

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 [C] a short pole with a flat wide part at one or both ends, that you hold in both hands and use for moving a small boat, especially a CANOE, through water compareOAR 2 [C] a tool or part of a machine shaped like a paddle, especially one used for mixing food 3 (a paddle) [sing.] (BrE) an act or period of walking in shallow water with bare feet: Let's go for a paddle. seealsoDOG-PADDLE 4 (AmE) a bat used for playing TABLETENNIS 5 (AmE) a piece of wood with a handle, used for hitting children as a punishment IDIOMS see CREEK verb 1 [usually +adv./prep.] to move a small boat through water using a paddle: [V] We paddled downstream for about a mile. * [VN] We paddled the canoe along the coast. 2 (BrE) (AmE wade) [V] to walk or stand with bare feet in shallow water in the sea, a lake, etc: The children have gone paddling. 3 [V] to swim with short movements of your hands or feet up and down 4 [VN] (AmE) to hit a child with a flat piece of wood as a punishment