Langimage
English

trawl

|trawl|

B2

🇺🇸

/trɔl/

🇬🇧

/trɔːl/

dragging or searching

Etymology
Etymology Information

'trawl' originates from Middle Dutch, specifically the word 'traghelen,' where 'traghelen' meant 'to drag.'

Historical Evolution

'traghelen' transformed into the Middle English word 'trawlen,' and eventually became the modern English word 'trawl'.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'to drag or pull,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'fishing with a net or searching thoroughly.'

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

a large net used for fishing by dragging it along the sea bottom.

The fishermen used a trawl to catch a large number of fish.

Synonyms

Verb 1

to fish with a trawl net.

They trawled the waters for hours without catching anything.

Synonyms

Verb 2

to search thoroughly or systematically.

The police trawled through the evidence to find clues.

Synonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:42