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Definition of 'oar'

Word Frequency

oar

(ɔːʳ )

Word forms: plural oars

countable noun

Oars are long poles with a wide, flat blade at one end which are used for rowing a boat.

Synonyms: paddle More Synonyms of oar

COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

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Word Frequency

oar in British English

(ɔː )

noun

1.

a long shaft of wood for propelling a boat by rowing, having a broad blade that is dipped into and pulled against the water. Oars were also used for steering certain kinds of ancient sailing boats

2. short for oarsman

3. put one's oar in

verb

4.

to row or propel with or as if with oars

the two men were oaring their way across the lake

Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Derived forms

oarless (ˈoarless)

adjective

oarlike (ˈoarˌlike)

adjective

Word origin

Old English ār, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse ār

Word Frequency

oar in American English

(ɔr )

noun

1.

a long pole with a broad blade at one end, held in place by an oarlock and used in pairs to row a boat: a single oar is sometimes used in steering a boat

2.

a person who uses an oar; rower

verb transitive, verb intransitive

3.

to row

Idioms:

put one's oar in

rest on one's oars

Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Word origin

ME ore < OE ar, akin to ON < IE *oyer-, rudder pole < base *ei-, *oi-, pole, rod > Gr oiēion, rudder

Examples of 'oar' in a sentence
oar

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

Coaches often tell their rowers to use their weight at the end of the oars.They will row into and out of port pulling on two huge oars.But sticking the old oar in when the parents are physically present also counts as real bravery.He was rowing with two oars but going against the wind and tide.They attempt to paddle the boat back to shore but they are too weak to use the oar with any effectiveness.The boats were to be rowed with muffled oars, and the men were to wade ashore.It makes our teeth itch when the contestants' families stick their oars in.If your next holiday can make a difference, why not stick your oar in?He used his oars little, satisfied to go with the tide and be taken back by it.If there is more muscle pulling that oar, then the force is stronger and the boat gains a momentum of its own.

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More idioms containing
oar

put your oar in

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oar

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In other languages
oar

British English: oar /ɔː/ NOUN

Oars are long poles with flat ends which are used for rowing a boat.

American English: oar
Arabic: مِجْدَافٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: remo
Chinese: 桨
Croatian: veslo
Czech: veslo
Danish: åre
Dutch: roeispaan
European Spanish: remo utensilio
Finnish: airo
French: rame
German: Ruder
Greek: κουπί
Italian: remo
Japanese: オール
Korean: 노
Norwegian: åre redskap
Polish: wiosło
European Portuguese: remo
Romanian: vâslă
Russian: весло
Latin American Spanish: remo
Swedish: åra
Thai: ไม้พาย
Turkish: kürek
Ukrainian: весло
Vietnamese: mái chèo

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Nearby words of
oar

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oar

Source

Definition of oar from the Collins English Dictionary

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Scrabble score
for 'oar':
3

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