1. (

• shovel

) a hand tool for lifting loose material; consists of a curved container or scoop and a handle ;

2. (

• shovel ,
• shovelful ,
• spadeful

) the quantity a shovel can hold ;

3. (

• shovel ,

) a fire iron consisting of a small shovel used to scoop coals or ashes in a fireplace ;

4. (

• power_shovel ,
• excavator ,
• digger ,
• shovel ,

) a machine for excavating ;

1. (

• shovel

) dig with or as if with a shovel; "shovel sand"; "he shovelled in the backyard all afternoon long" ;