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snail Definition

snail (snāl)

noun

  1. any of a large number of slow-moving gastropods living on land or in water and having a spiral protective shell: some kinds are used as food
  2. any lazy, slow-moving person or animal

Etymology: ME snaile < OE snægl, akin to Ger dial. schnägel, ON snigill < IE base *sneg-, to creep > snake, sneak

snail Related Forms

snail·like′ adjective

snail Usage Examples

Possessives

pace: Each was guiding his car at a snail's pace near the center of the road.

Converse of object

  • decompose: When the bottle was poured a partly decomposed snail floated out.
  • eat: Don't worry, you're not actually eating the whole snail.

Adjective modifier

  • edible: There are many different types of edible snails in the world.
  • aquatic: It is also advisable to put a couple of small aquatic snails in the hatching container.
  • giant: Giant African snails should be kept indoors, in a warm place.
  • marine: These tiny winkles are marine snails, yet spend most of their time out of the water.
  • tiny: How I long to sail " Said the tiny snail.
  • African: Giant African snails should be kept indoors, in a warm place.

Modifies a noun

  • mail: Snail mail may be sent via the postal boxes located on each campus.
  • porridge: The first problem with snail porridge ( apart from the name ) was getting hold of the snails.
  • shell: Snail shell, the occupant probably removed by a bird!
  • pace: For the latter, pretty much the same - except at a Fabian's snail pace of change.
  • trail: Incidentally, did anyone hear about the snail trail theory?

Noun used with modifier

  • whorl: The Giant's Causeway National Nature Reserve supports the only known population of narrow-mouthed whorl snail in Northern Ireland.
  • freshwater: There are 52 species of freshwater snails found in Britain.
  • apple: Can anyone tell me what enjoyment is to be had out of keeping apple snails?
  • mud: Mudflats have an abundance of invertebrates such as ragworm and mud snails and the channels contain fish such as bass, flounders and gobies.
  • pond: The pond snail has lungs which it fills with gulps of air.
  • sea: Population stability of the sea snail at the southern edge of its range.

Browse dictionary entries near snail

  1. snaggy
  2. snaggletooth
  3. Snagge,John
  4. snag
  5. snafu
  6. snaffle
  7. snack bar
  8. snack
  9. SNA
  10. Sn
  1. snail darter
  2. snail fever
  3. Snail Mail
  4. snail-paced
  5. snake
  6. snake charmer
  7. snake dance
  8. snake doctor
  9. snake eyes
  10. snake fence