trawl

[trɔːl]

trawl Definition

• 1. to fish by pulling a large net through the water behind a boat
• 2. to search through something thoroughly and systematically

Using trawl: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "trawl" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  The fishermen trawled the ocean for hours.

• Example

  She trawled through the archives looking for information.

• Example

  The police are trawling through CCTV footage to identify the suspect.

trawl Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for trawl

• drag
• haul
• net
• comb
• rake

Phrases with trawl

• trawl net

  a large, cone-shaped fishing net that is pulled through the water by one or more boats

  Example

  The trawl net caught a lot of fish.

• trawl through

  to search through something thoroughly and systematically

  Example

  I had to trawl through hundreds of pages of legal documents to find the information I needed.

• trawl for

  to try to find or obtain something, especially information

  Example

  The journalist was trawling for information about the company's finances.

Origins of trawl

from Middle Dutch 'traghelen', meaning 'to drag'

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Summary: trawl in Brief

The verb 'trawl' [trɔːl] has two main meanings. The first refers to fishing by pulling a large net through the water behind a boat, as in 'The fishermen trawled the ocean for hours.' The second meaning is to search through something thoroughly and systematically, as in 'She trawled through the archives looking for information.' 'Trawl' can also be used in phrases like 'trawl net' and 'trawl for,' and its synonyms include 'drag,' 'haul,' and 'rake.'