shoal

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++

Related topics: Oceanography

shoal /ʃəʊl $ ʃoʊl/ noun [countable]  1  HBPGROUP OF PEOPLEa large group of fish swimming together 鱼群 SYN schoolshoal of a shoal of fish 一大群鱼► see thesaurus at group2. HEOa small hill of sand just below the surface of water that makes it dangerous for boats 浅滩，沙洲

Examples from the Corpus

shoal• Above: A shoal for £2?• Keep Pim. pictus in a shoal.• If you find yourself close to a shoal of feeding chub, take advantage and watch.• Peaceful and lively, the fish is best in small shoals because loners or pairs become nervous.• Green Chromis are ideal in small shoals.• But pirates lurked in the shoals of global commerce, ready to plunder the cargoes.• Swells passed through them, shoals surfaced without warning.• They hugged the shore, Clayt pulling hard on the wheel at unseen shoals, flying over low water.Origin shoal 1. Old English scolu “large group”2. (1300-1400) shoal “not deep” ((11-20 centuries)), from Old English sceald

shoal nounChinese  

large swimming Corpus a together group fish of

shoal
shoal /ʃəʊl $ ʃoʊl/ noun [countable]1. a large group of fish swimming together
   SYN  school
    shoal of
    a shoal of fish
2. a small hill of sand just below the surface of water that makes it dangerous for boats
     

THESAURUS

■ of animals
   ▪ herd a group of cows, deer, or elephants: A herd of cows was blocking the road.
   ▪ team a group of people who work together: She is being cared for by a team of doctors.
   ▪ flock a group of sheep or birds: a flock of seagulls | The farmer has over 100 sheep in his flock.
   ▪ pack a group of dogs or wolves: Some dogs are bred to work in packs.
   ▪ litter a group of kittens or puppies born at one time to a particular mother: He was one of a litter of seven puppies.
   ▪ school/shoal a group of fish or dolphins: Piranha fish live in shoals in the wild.

shoalBrE /ʃəʊl/ 🔊NAmE /ʃoʊl/ 🔊 nouna large number of fish swimming together as a group 鱼群  ➡  compare school noun (9) a small hill of sand just below the surface of the sea 浅滩；水下沙洲