shoal

Everyday

1. A shoal is a large group of fish swimming together. tree →
2. A shoal is also a shallow place in a sea or river, often a sandbank, that can be dangerous for boats. tree →
3. (informal, UK) A shoal of things is a large number of them: shoals of letters. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons, fish swim in shoals for safety: it is harder for a predator to pick out one fish, and many eyes spot danger. Herring, sardines and mackerel form shoals. In geography and history, ships ran aground on shoals near coasts; lighthouses warn of them. Phrases: «a shoal of fish», «swim in shoals», «run aground on a shoal».

Examples

• A shoal of silver fish flashed past the boat. tree →
• Fish swim in shoals to stay safe from sharks. tree →
• The dolphins herded the shoal of sardines into a ball. tree →
• The ship ran aground on a hidden shoal. tree →
• Shoals of mackerel came close to the shore. tree →
• The lighthouse warns sailors about the shoals. tree →
• Men can’t come down the cliffs, even if there were any men; and the shoals to seaward would knock a ship to splinters. tree →

Note

A «school» of fish means almost the same; scientists sometimes say a shoal is a loose group and a school moves together. Collective nouns: a shoal of fish, a flock of birds, a herd of cows.