shoal
gb/ʃˈoʊl/ us/ʃˈoʊl/
B2
English
zátony, halraj, sekélyedik, rajba verődik
NOUN
B2
1
zátony
B2
Usage pattern:
a shoal; on/over a shoal; the shoal off [place]
The boat ran aground on a shoal just outside the harbor.
A hajó közvetlenül a kikötő előtt fennakadt egy zátonyon.
The chart shows a shoal to the north of the island.
A hajózási térkép egy zátonyt jelöl a szigettől északra.
At low tide, the shoal is clearly visible beneath the surface.
Learner examples
The ship avoided the shoal.
A hajó elkerülte a zátonyt.
The water is shallow near the shoal.
A zátony közelében sekély a víz.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse shoal (a shallow area) with school (a group of fish).
Meaning
shallow area in a body of water
Collocations
a sand shoal
|a coral shoal
|a shallow shoal
|a hidden shoal
|an offshore shoal
|a coastal shoal
|to hit/strike a shoal
|to run aground on a shoal
|to avoid a shoal
|to chart/map a shoal
Synonyms
sandbank (Often specifically a ridge of sand in shallow water.)
|
shallow (More general; not necessarily a raised underwater bank.)
Antonyms
deep water (Water with enough depth for safe passage.)
Themes
nature
|sea
|travel
|geography
Definition
a place where the water is not deep, which can be dangerous for boats
A shallow place in the sea, a lake, or a river, often formed by sand or other material, that can be dangerous for boats to pass over.
NOUN
B2
2
halraj
B1
Usage pattern:
a shoal of [fish]
A shoal of silver fish darted through the clear water.
Egy ezüstös halraj cikázott át a tiszta vízen.
Divers watched a shoal of sardines shift direction as one.
A búvárok figyelték, ahogy a szardíniaraj egyszerre vált irányt.
Seabirds circled above the shoal, diving for food.
Learner examples
We saw a shoal of fish.
Láttunk egy halrajt.
A shoal of fish swam by.
Elúszott egy halraj.
Common mistake:
In American English, school is more common than shoal for groups of fish.
Meaning
large group of fish together
Collocations
a shoal of fish
|a shoal of herring
|a shoal of sardines
|a shoal of mackerel
|a huge shoal
|a dense shoal
|a shoal swims past
|to spot a shoal
|a shoal near the surface
|shoal behavior
Synonyms
school (The more common word in American English for a group of fish.)
|
swarm (Less precise; used for many moving animals, not specifically fish.)
Antonyms
single fish (Emphasizes one fish rather than a group.)
Themes
nature
|animals
|sea
|food
Definition
a big group of fish swimming together
A large group of fish swimming together.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
3
sekélyedik
B2
Usage pattern:
[water/channel] shoals; shoal toward [place]
The water shoals quickly near the beach, so swimmers should be careful.
A part közelében a víz gyorsan sekélyedik, ezért az úszóknak óvatosnak kell lenniük.
As you approach the sandbar, the channel shoals to less than two meters.
Ahogy közeledsz a homokpadhoz, a csatorna két méter alá sekélyedik.
Over time, the river has shoaled because of sediment buildup.
Learner examples
Near the shore, the water shoals.
A part közelében a víz sekélyedik.
The channel shoals in summer.
Nyáron a csatorna sekélyedik.
Common mistake:
Don’t use shoal for a person or object becoming shallow; it mainly describes water or channels.
Meaning
become shallower
Collocations
the water shoals
|the channel shoals
|the seabed shoals
|shoal gradually
|shoal abruptly
|shoal toward the shore
|the river shoals
|the depth shoals
|shoaling waters
|a shoaling channel
Synonyms
shallow (More general; can be used in more contexts than shoal.)
|
silt up (Specifically become shallower because sediment builds up.)
Antonyms
deepen (Become deeper rather than shallower.)
Themes
nature
|sea
|geography
Definition
(of water) to become less deep
To become shallower, especially as the seabed or riverbed rises toward land or as a channel fills with sediment.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
4
Usage pattern:
[fish] shoal; shoal near/around [place]
The fish shoal near the rocks when the tide turns.
Amikor fordul az árapály, a halak a sziklák közelében rajba verődnek.
In winter, the species shoals in deeper water.
Télen ez a faj mélyebb vízben rajba verődik.
Small fish shoaled tightly when a predator approached.
Learner examples
Fish shoal near the reef.
A halak a zátony közelében rajba verődnek.
The fish shoaled together.
A halak rajba verődtek.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this verb in everyday writing; gather or swim in a group is usually more natural.
Meaning
gather into a group of fish
Collocations
fish shoal
|shoal near the surface
|shoal around reefs
|shoal in summer
|shoal in large numbers
|shoal offshore
|shoal to spawn
|shoal tightly
|shoal together
|seasonal shoaling
Synonyms
school (More common verb for fish forming a group, especially in American English.)
|
congregate (More general; not specific to fish behavior.)
Antonyms
disperse (Spread out rather than stay in a tight group.)
Themes
nature
|animals
|sea
Definition
(of fish) to swim together in a big group
(Of fish) to gather and move in a large group.
Grammar
Dictionary form
shoal
IPA
GB/ʃˈoʊl/
US/ʃˈoʊl/
Syllables & stress
shoal (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (shoal)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: shoal
- Plural: shoals
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.