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Dredge: Definition, Usage & Key Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：clear out sediment (dredge)

dredge 🔊

/dredʒ/

To use a special machine to remove mud, sand, and rubbish from the bottom of a river, lake, or harbor to make it deeper or cleaner.

Dredge meaning illustrated by a dredging ship clearing sediment from a riverbed.

clear out sediment 🔊

➕

/klɪər aʊt ˈsɛdɪmənt/

To remove mud, sand, and debris from the bottom of a body of water using specialized machinery.

📁 Category：Transportation & Travel 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Likely from Scottish dialect or Middle English, related to dragging a net along a riverbed.

💡 Mnemonic

DREDGE sounds like DREDGER, the machine that digs. Think: To DREDGE is to DRAG and DIG.

📖 Example

The city government plans to dredge the canal so that larger tour boats can pass through safely next summer. 🔊 The city government plans to clear out sediment from the canal to allow safe passage for larger tour boats next summer.

🔗 Collocations

dredge up – to remove material from underwater

dredge the channel – to deepen a waterway for navigation

dredging operation – a planned activity of clearing a waterbed

🔄 Synonyms

excavate (v.) – to dig out and remove material, especially earth

scour (v.) – to clean or clear a surface by hard rubbing or a forceful flow of water

dig out () –

🚫 Antonyms

fill in (phr. v.) – to add material to a hole or cavity, making it level or full

silt up (phr. v.) – to become blocked or filled with fine sediment

🌱 Derivatives

dredger (n.) – a boat or machine used for dredging

dredging (n.) – the activity or process of dredging

📖 Cultural Story

The verb originates from the 16th century, referring to dragging a net for oysters. The related machinery, a 'dredger', evolved for harbor maintenance, shaping global shipping and port construction.

Meaning 2：recall memories (dredge)

dredge 🔊

/dredʒ/

To bring something up from your memory with effort, especially old or forgotten things. Also means to sprinkle a thin layer of flour or sugar over food.

Dredge up memories concept showing a person recalling a faded photograph.

recall memories 🔊

➕

/rɪˈkɔːl ˈmɛməriz/

To bring something, especially a memory or feeling, back to your mind with effort, often something long forgotten or unpleasant.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Listening to that old song helped her dredge up happy memories of her college days. 🔊 Listening to that old song helped her recall happy memories of her college days.

🔗 Collocations

dredge up memories – to bring past memories to mind

dredge from the past – to recall something from long ago

dredge over – to sprinkle a light coating of a powdery substance

🔄 Synonyms

recollect (v.) – to remember something, especially by making an effort

evoke (v.) – to bring a feeling, memory, or image into the mind

unearth (v.) – to discover something hidden, lost, or kept secret

🚫 Antonyms

forget (v.) – to be unable to remember something

suppress (v.) – to prevent an emotion, memory, or idea from being expressed