Meaning & use
snorkel
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A tube with a mouthpiece that lets you breathe while swimming face-down just below the surface.
Grammar: Countable: one snorkel, two snorkels.
Patterns
- use a snorkel
- put on a snorkel
She rented a mask and snorkel at the beach.
The snorkel lets you look at fish without lifting your head.
He cleaned the snorkel before putting it in his mouth.
verbintransitive
To swim near the surface using a snorkel to look at underwater life.
Grammar: No object; often followed by in or at: snorkel in the bay.
Patterns
- snorkel in a place
- go snorkeling
We snorkeled in the clear water and saw a turtle.
They plan to snorkel along the reef tomorrow.
Snorkeling is easier than scuba diving for beginners.
nouncountabletechnical
A device on a submarine that brings in air and lets out exhaust when the submarine is just below the surface.
Grammar: Technical use; countable.
Patterns
- raise the snorkel
- the submarine's snorkel
The submarine raised its snorkel to take in fresh air.
The snorkel allows the engine to run while the sub stays hidden.
Word forms
| plural | snorkels |
|---|---|
| third person singular | snorkels |
| past tense | snorkeled |
| past participle | snorkeled |
| present participle | snorkeling |
Common combinations
- snorkel gear
- We packed our snorkel gear for the trip.
- snorkel mask
- The snorkel mask kept water out of her eyes.
- go snorkeling
- Let's go snorkeling this afternoon.
- snorkel in the bay
- They snorkeled in the bay and saw colorful fish.
- rent a snorkel
- You can rent a snorkel at the dive shop.
Synonyms and how they differ
- breathing tube
- A general term for any tube used to breathe; snorkel is the specific piece of swimming equipment.
- scuba
- Scuba uses a tank of air and lets you go deeper; a snorkel is just a tube for surface swimming.
Word family
- snorkeler noun
- A person who snorkels.
- snorkeling noun
- The activity of swimming with a snorkel.
Commonly confused: snorkel or snorkle?
snorkel vs snorkle
Snorkle is a common misspelling. The correct spelling is snorkel with an e before the l.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
When you snorkel, you swim in the water, so 'in the coral reef' is correct. 'On' suggests being on top of the reef, 'at' is too general for the activity location, and 'to' suggests direction, not the place where you swam.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “snorkel”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.