waddle

/'wɔdl/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
waddle

The little ducklings waddle behind their mother across the grassy bank.

Definition

  1. Verb:

    • To walk with short, swaying steps while tilting the body from side to side, typically due to a heavy build, short legs, or carrying a load. This gait is often associated with ducks, penguins, or very young children.
    • To move forward slowly and unsteadily with a rocking motion.

  2. Noun:

    • A swaying, unsteady gait characterized by short steps and a side-to-side motion of the body.
Usage and Examples

  • Verb:

    • The ducks waddle down to the pond every morning.
    • After the huge meal, he had to waddle back to his car.
    • The toddler began to waddle across the room, clutching her toy.

  • Noun:

    • The penguin's comical waddle is an adaptation for life on ice.
    • He walked with a distinct waddle because of his sore feet.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
  • Descriptive Use: The word often carries a connotation of being awkward, slow, or endearing, but is not inherently insulting. It is a neutral description of a specific type of movement.
  • Figurative Use: Can be used figuratively to describe the slow, laborious progress of something non-physical.
    • The project continued to waddle through bureaucratic hurdles.
Variants and Related Words
  • Toddle (verb): To walk with short, unsteady steps, like a very young child. While similar, "toddle" does not necessarily imply the same pronounced side-to-side sway as "waddle."
  • Waddler (noun): A person or animal that waddles.
Synonyms
  • Verb: Totter, sway, shuffle, lumber.
  • Noun: Swaying gait, rolling walk.
Related Phrases and Idioms
  • "Waddle like a duck": A common simile describing the specific gait.
    • In the oversized snowsuit, the child waddled like a duck.
  • "Waddle off/away": To depart with a waddling motion.
    • The mother duck waddled off, followed by her line of ducklings.
waddle

The little ducklings waddle behind their mother across the grassy bank.

Noun
  1. walking with short steps and the weight tilting from one foot to the other
    • ducks walk with a waddle
Verb
  1. walk unsteadily
    • small children toddle

Từ đồng nghĩa

Từ gần giống

Từ chứa "waddle"

Từ có nhắc đến "waddle"