snorkel

1 of 2

noun

snor·​kel ˈsnȯr-kəl How to pronounce snorkel (audio)
plural snorkels
1
: a plastic tube that allows a swimmer to breathe while keeping the head or face under the surface of the water
He swam about 250 yards on the surface, using a snorkel to breathe, to get past the barren sandy bottom.Brian Clark
No complicated equipment—just a mask, snorkel, and fins, and you're set to explore a shimmering world of exotic fish and Technicolor coral.Richard Alleman
2
: a tube housing air intake and exhaust pipes for a vehicle's engine that can be extended above the water's surface so that the engine can be operated while the vehicle is partially or fully submerged
Water entered the snorkel of an Argentine submarine and caused one of its batteries to short circuit before the vessel went missing this month, a navy spokesman said Monday.Chicago Tribune
Most need to be specially modified … with extra ground clearance to get over big rocks, an exhaust snorkel for river crossings, industrial-strength suspension, and an engine with enough torque to power through mud and sand.Jerry Guo

snorkel

2 of 2

verb

snorkeled; snorkeling ˈsnȯr-k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce snorkel (audio)

intransitive verb

: to operate or swim submerged using a snorkel
snorkeler noun

Examples of snorkel in a Sentence

Verb We snorkeled in the Caribbean on our vacation last year.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
At least three ladder trucks with snorkel units, or cherry pickers, were pouring water on the blaze as more firefighters wielded hoses and other gear on the ground, aerial footage from CNN affiliates WDIV and WXYZ shows. Rob Frehse, CNN, 5 Mar. 2024 Swim, snorkel, or paddle through Biscayne National Park. Jessica Poitevien, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2024 Visitors can rent snorkel gear or purchase fresh fruit from local vendors. USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2024 Things to Do on Maui Book a snorkel tour, then spend the day at Ka'anapali Beach. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2024 Further options include an engine-bay snorkel, a front bull bar, a winch, and the addition of rear jump seats. Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2024 To avoid the hectic parking situation, there’s a shuttle service to and from Waikiki for $49 per person, which covers snorkel gear but not the entrance fee. Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2024 Bring along the snorkel and fins, because there’s lots of interesting sea life a few yards away from shore. Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 Popular activities to book include a half-day snorkel tour that makes stops at the crystalline Honeymoon Harbour and SS Sapona shipwreck. Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 24 Jan. 2024
Verb
Visitors enjoy taking a refreshing dip in the vibrant water, snorkeling the sea beds, or water sports like jet skiing or windsurfing. Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2024 Especially popular with families, activities include snorkeling amid the local coral reefs, whale watching, stargazing, bird-watching, gardening, desert hikes, and even making one’s own hot chocolate while learning about the history of the cocoa production in Mexico. Byrachel King, Fortune, 25 Feb. 2024 At Four Seasons Resort Lanai, enjoy a table for one and Japanese dishes at the cliffside Nobu Lana, and snorkel in the reef that’s teeming with tropical fish and green sea turtles. Brittany Anas, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 Beyond tempting travelers with the Kimberley’s peerless sights, this itinerary includes snorkeling on paradisical Satonda Island, Indonesia; meeting local ikat weaving experts at Sumba Island, Indonesia; and hiking in Komodo National Park, where Komodo dragons, the world’s largest lizards, roam. Janice Wald Henderson, Travel + Leisure, 17 Nov. 2023 Rotate between lounging out on tropical beaches, snorkeling at nearby Xel-Ha Park, swimming in a natural sinkhole (or cenote), and touring ancient Mayan ruins, many of which are still intact. Claudia Fisher, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2024 For those seeking adventure, the resort offers a variety of water sports activities, including paddleboarding, kayaking, and snorkeling on its own quarter-mile of private beach (the largest in South Florida). Caroline Tell, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024 While children and families can splash in the beach’s gentle waters, the more adventurous can snorkel or dive out to the bay’s six shipwrecks or catch a glimpse of a passing turtle. USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2024 The controversy erupted after Modi posted images to social platform X of himself snorkeling and walking along a beach in Lakshadweep, an Indian island chain in the Laccadive Sea, off the coast of Kerala. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'snorkel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

German Schnorchel

First Known Use

Noun

1945, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of snorkel was in 1945

Dictionary Entries Near snorkel

Cite this Entry

“Snorkel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snorkel. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

snorkel

1 of 2 noun
snor·​kel ˈsnȯr-kəl How to pronounce snorkel (audio)
1
: a tube or tubes that can be extended above the surface of the water to supply air to and remove exhaust from a submerged submarine
2
: a tube used by swimmers for breathing with the head under water

snorkel

2 of 2 verb
snorkeled; snorkeling -k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce snorkel (audio)
: to swim underwater using a snorkel

More from Merriam-Webster on snorkel

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