What does oar mean?

Definitions for oar
ɔr, oʊroar

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word oar.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. oarnoun

    an implement used to propel or steer a boat

Wiktionary

  1. oarnoun

    An implement used to propel a boat or a ship in the water, having a flat blade at one end, being rowed from the other end and being normally fastened to the vessel.

  2. oarverb

    To row; to propel with oars.

  3. Etymology: ar, from ár.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. OARnoun

    A long pole with a broad end, by which vessels are driven in the water, the resistance made by water to the oar pushing on the vessel.

    Etymology: are , Saxon; perhaps by allusion to the common expression of plowing the water, from the same root with ear, to plow, aro, Lat.

    Th’ oars were silver,
    Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and made
    The water which they beat, to follow faster,
    As amorous of their strokes. William Shakespeare, Jul. Cæsar.

    So tow’rds a ship the oar-finn’d gallies ply,
    Which wanting sea to ride, or wind to fly,
    Stands but to fall reveng’d. John Denham, Poems.

    In shipping such as this, the Irish kern
    And untaught Indian, on the stream did glide,
    E’er sharp-keel’d boats to stem the flood did learn,
    Or fin-like oars did spread from either side. Dryden.

    Its progressive motion may be effected by the help of several oars, which in the outward ends of them shall be like the fins of a fish to contract and dilate. John Wilkins.

  2. To Oarverb

    To impel by rowing.

    His bold head
    ’Bove the contentious waves he kept, and oar’d
    Himself with his good arms in lusty strokes
    To th’ shore. William Shakespeare, Tempest.

  3. To Oarverb

    To row.

    Etymology: from the noun.

    He more undaunted on the ruin rode,
    And oar’d with labouring arms along the flood. Alexander Pope.

Wikipedia

  1. Oar

    An oar is an implement used for water-borne propulsion. Oars have a flat blade at one end. Rowers grasp the oar at the other end. The difference between oars and paddles is that oars are used exclusively for rowing. In rowing the oar is connected to the vessel by means of a pivot point for the oar, either an oarlock, or a thole. The oar is placed in the pivot point with a short portion inside the vessel, and a much larger portion outside. The rower pulls on the short end of the oar, while the long end is in the water. By contrast, paddles, are held in both hands by the paddler, and are not attached to the vessel. Rowers generally face the stern of the vessel, reach towards the stern, and insert the blade of their oar in the water. As they lean back, towards the vessel's bow, the blade of their oars pivots in the oarlock, and the end in the water moves towards the stern, providing forward thrust. For thousands of years vessels were powered either by sails, or by the mechanical work of rowers, or by paddlers. Some ancient vessels were propelled by both oars and sail, depending on the speed and direction of the wind.

ChatGPT

  1. oar

    An oar is a long, flat, usually wooden pole with a broad blade at one end, used for rowing or propelling a boat in the water. One or more oars are typically used at the same time, and they are often operated from inside the boat by a rower.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Oar

    an implement for impelling a boat, being a slender piece of timber, usually ash or spruce, with a grip or handle at one end and a broad blade at the other. The part which rests in the rowlock is called the loom

  2. Oar

    an oarsman; a rower; as, he is a good oar

  3. Oar

    an oarlike swimming organ of various invertebrates

  4. Oar

    to row

  5. Etymology: [AS. r; akin to Icel. r, Dan. aare, Sw. ra; perh. akin to E. row, v. Cf. Rowlock.]

Wikidata

  1. Oar

    An oar is an implement used for water-borne propulsion. Oars have a flat blade at one end. Oarsmen grasp the oar at the other end. The difference between oars and paddles are that paddles are held by the paddler, and are not connected with the vessel. Oars generally are connected to the vessel by means of rowlocks or tholes which transmit the applied force to the boat. In this system the water is the fulcrum. Oarsmen generally face the stern of the vessel, reach as far as they can towards the stern, and insert the blade of their oar in the water. As they lean back, towards the vessel's bow, the blade of their oars sweeps the water towards the stern, providing forward thrust – see lever. For thousands of years vessels were powered either by sails, or the mechanical work of oarsmen, or paddlers. Some ancient vessels were propelled by either oars or sail, depending on the speed and direction of the wind.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Oar

    ōr, n. a light pole with a flat feather or spoon-shaped end (the blade) for propelling a boat: an oar-like appendage for swimming, as the antennæ of an insect or crustacean, &c.: an oarsman.—v.t. to impel by rowing.—v.i. to row.—n. Oar′age, oars collectively.—adj. Oared, furnished with oars.—ns. Oar′lap, a rabbit with its ears standing out at right-angles to the head; Oar′-lock, a rowlock; Oars′man, one who rows with an oar; Oars′manship, skill in rowing.—adj. Oar′y, having the form or use of oars.—Boat oars, to bring the oars inboard; Feather oars, to turn the blades parallel to the water when reaching back for another stroke; Lie on the oars, to cease rowing without shipping the oars: to rest, take things easily: to cease from work; Put in one's oar, to give advice when not wanted; Ship, or Unship, oars, to place the oars in the rowlocks, or to take them out. [A.S. ár.]

Dictionary of Nautical Terms

  1. oar

    A slender piece of timber used as a lever to propel a boat through the water. The blade is dipped into the water, while the other end within board, termed the loom, is small enough to be grasped by the rower. The silver oar is a badge of office, similar to the staff of a peace-officer, which on presentation, enables a person intrusted with a warrant to serve it on board any ship he may set foot upon.--To boat the oars, is to cease rowing and lay the oars in the boat.--Get your oars to pass! The order to prepare them for rowing, or shipping them.

Editors Contribution

  1. oar

    A type of product created and designed in various colors, materials, mechanisms, shapes, sizes and styles.

    Rowing boats use oars.


    Submitted by MaryC on March 13, 2020  

Suggested Resources

  1. OAR

    What does OAR stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the OAR acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.

Surnames Frequency by Census Records

  1. OAR

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Oar is ranked #78821 in terms of the most common surnames in America.

    The Oar surname appeared 242 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 would have the surname Oar.

    88.8% or 215 total occurrences were White.
    6.2% or 15 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
    2.4% or 6 total occurrences were Asian.

Matched Categories

Anagrams for oar »

  1. ROA

  2. AOR

  3. Ora

  4. aro

How to pronounce oar?

How to say oar in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of oar in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of oar in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of oar in a Sentence

  1. Miguel de Cervantes:

    He has an oar in every man's boat, and a finger in every pie.

  2. Aristophanes, Wasps, 422 B.C.:

    This is what extremely grieves us, that a man who never foughtShould contrive our fees to pilfer, on who for his native landNever to this day had oar, or lance, or blister in his hand.

  3. Aristophanes:

    This is what extremely grieves us, that a man who never fought Should contrive our fees to pilfer, on who for his native land Never to this day had oar, or lance, or blister in his hand.

  4. Johnson:

    He that embarks on the voyage of life will always wish to advance rather by the impulse of the wind than the strokes of the oar; and many foulder in their passage; while they lie waiting for the gale.

  5. Jennifer Cervantes:

    Right now, we’re kind of going back and forth between CBP – I’m asking CBP to release their detainer and actually issue him an OAR parole (an immigration status for Afghan migrants), which is what the United States issues to most Afghans that they brought in because I think that’s the right thing to do in this case, however, if they don’t do that, he’ll be transferred to ICE custody, and we’ll be trying to get him released from ICE.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

oar#10000#27847#100000

Translations for oar

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"oar." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 18 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/oar>.

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