好词典

shoal

UK //ʃəʊl//US //ʃoʊl//

词源

源自古英语 sceald(浅的),与古诺尔斯语 skalli(秃头)同源,后引申为水下隆起的地形特征。

noun

❶ 指水域中浅滩或沙洲,通常由沙子或碎石堆积形成,可能导致船只搁浅。也用于形容鱼群聚集的现象。

“The boat ran aground on a hidden shoal.”

(船只因触到暗沙洲而搁浅。)

“We saw a shoal of fish glittering in the sunlight.”

(我们看到一群鱼在阳光下闪闪发光。)

同义词:sandbank, reef, school (of fish)

verb

❶ 指鱼群聚集或形成浅滩的行为,也用于描述船只因水深不足而变浅的过程。

“The sardines began to shoal near the surface.”

(沙丁鱼开始在水面附近聚集成群。)

“The river shoals rapidly during the dry season.”

(旱季时这条河会迅速变浅。)

同义词:congregate, cluster, swarm

常见短语

shoal of fish — 特指密集游动的鱼群,常呈现银光闪烁的壮观景象。

“A huge shoal of anchovies attracted dozens of seabirds.”

(一大群凤尾鱼吸引了数十只海鸟。)

shoal water — 指水深不足的浅水区域,对航行构成潜在危险。

“The captain carefully navigated through shoal waters.”

(船长小心地驾驶船只通过浅水区。)