shoal

• Nom ayant plusieurs sens : il peut désigner un banc de sable ou une zone peu profonde devenant visible à marée basse, ou un grand groupe de poissons nageant ensemble.

A noun with multiple meanings: it can refer to a sandbank or area of shallow water that becomes visible at low tide, or to a large group of fish swimming together.

1. SandbankB2formal

   A submerged or partially submerged ridge of sand in a body of water, often becoming visible when the tide is low.

   banc de sable

   • The boat ran aground on a hidden shoal near the coast.
   • At low tide, the shoal was clearly visible from the shore.
   • Navigators must be cautious of shifting shoals in the estuary.

   Synonymesbankbarsandbanksandbarshallowspit

2. Shallow waterB2formal

   An area of water that is not deep, often posing a hazard to navigation.

   Haut-fond

   • The ship avoided the shoal by following the marked channel.
   • Fishermen know the shoals where the water is too shallow for large vessels.
   • The map indicated several shoals in the northern part of the lake.

   Synonymesbanksandbanksandbarshallowshelf

   Antonymesabyssdeepdepth

3. Large group of fishB1formal

   A large, densely packed group of fish swimming together, often for protection or migration.

   banc de poissons

   • A shoal of herring passed beneath the boat.
   • The divers observed a massive shoal of sardines.
   • Predators often target the edges of a shoal for an easy meal.

   Synonymesaggregationgroupmassschoolswarm

• Verbe décrivant le fait pour des poissons de se rassembler en grands groupes, ou le fait pour l'eau de devenir peu profonde.

A verb used to describe the act of fish gathering together in large groups, or of water becoming shallow.

1. Make shallowC2formal

   To cause a body of water to become shallower, often by depositing sediment or other material.

   Rendre moins profond

   • The river was shoaled by the accumulation of silt.
   • Dredging operations prevented the harbor from shoaling further.
   • Over time, the delta shoaled the estuary.

   Synonymesshallowsiltsilt up

   Antonymesdeependredgeexcavate

2. C2formal

   To become shallower, as a body of water does naturally.

   Devenir moins profond

   • The water shoals quickly near the sandbar.
   • As we approached the shore, the depth shoaled.
   • The lake shoaled during the drought.

   Synonymesshallowsilt up

   Antonymesdeepen