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oar Definition

oar (ôr)

noun

  1. a long pole with a broad blade at one end, held in place by an oarlock and used in pairs to row a boat: a single oar is sometimes used in steering a boat
  2. a person who uses an oar; rower

Etymology: ME ore < OE ar, akin to ON < IE *oyer-, rudder pole < base *ei-, *oi-, pole, rod > Gr oiēion, rudder

transitive verb, intransitive verb

to row

oar Idioms

put one's oar in

to meddle

rest on one's oars

to stop to rest or relax

oar Synonyms

oar

n.

pole, sweep, scull; see paddle.

oar Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • steer: They all carry the standard pair of steering oars at the stern some of which appear to have a tiller arm.
  • pull: Then we were each compelled to pull an oar.
  • hold: The rowlock holds the oar in place during the rowing stroke.
  • take: They had set out from Ireland in a boat and hadn't bothered to take any oars with them; they simply drifted.
  • use: Later, they built stronger ships that could use either oars or sails for trading with their neighbors.

Preposition: on

  • side: Viking ships had one square sail made of wool, and a row of oars on each side.

Converse of subject

  • propel: Some of the ships were propelled by oars, others were under sail.

Adjective modifier

  • single: This counterbalances the push of the single oar which would tend to direct the boat to the left.
  • long: Keeping the inboard the same, longer oars feel heavier, shorter oars lighter.
  • short: The second method is to increase the arc of the shorter oar to achieve the same cord length illustrated by the red line.
  • large: The vessels are steered by means of a side rudder in form of a large oar.

Modifies a noun

  • blade: Catch Stroke phase at the instant the oar blade enters the water.
  • poker: Manner which reflects or a solid is by crazy game oar poker primarily a. Down in a the only way watch how hands.
  • length: Also, widening the spread will give you a lower gearing without changing the oar length.
  • power: Oar power could be increased only be increasing the number of oarsmen.

Noun used with modifier

  • steering: No oars apart from the steering oar would of been used on the ship.
  • sweep: Richard Dunn is in the GB senior sweep oar squad where he hopes to secure a seat in the Olympic eight for Sydney.
  • game: Manner which reflects or a solid is by crazy game oar poker primarily a. Down in a the only way watch how hands.

Preposition: in

  • boat: German rigging A variation in the arrangement of oars in a sweep boat.
  • water: It is true our eyes can deceive us, but there are no oars in water here.
oar Quotes

Surely, surely, slumber is more sweet than toil, the shore Than labour in the deep mid-ocean, wind and wave and oar; Oh rest ye, brother mariners, we will not wander more.

—Tennyson

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