shoal
/ʃoʊl/
noun
- A large number of fish swimming together.
- A shoal of herring swam just beneath the surface of the water.
- The fishermen spotted a large shoal on their sonar screen.
- We watched a shoal of tiny silver fish dart away from the boat.
- A shallow area of water, especially one that is a hazard to boats.
- The ship ran aground on a hidden shoal near the coast.
- The captain carefully navigated around the sandy shoal.
- At low tide, the shoal was clearly visible just offshore.
Synonyms
verb
- (of fish) to form or swim in a large group.
- We could see the fish shoaling in the clear blue water.
- The sardines began to shoal near the surface at dusk.
- Small fish often shoal together for protection from predators.
- To become shallow or less deep.
- As the boat moved closer to the island, the water shoaled dramatically.
- The river shoals quickly as you approach the sandbar.
- The depth of the channel shoals to less than two meters in summer.