Definition

A small, thin piece of material, often wood or slate, used to cover roofs or walls in overlapping rows.

Example

The roof was covered with wooden shingles that protected the house from rain.

Conversation

Have you ever seen how they put up a shingle on a house?

Yeah, it's interesting how they overlap the pieces.

I wonder if it's hard to find the right type of shingle for your roof.

It can be tricky, but there are so many styles to choose from!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

To cover a roof or building with thin, flat pieces of material, or to cut hair very short and close to the head.

Example

The workers will shingle the roof before the rainy season starts.

Tense Forms

Conversation

I finally decided to shingle the roof this weekend.

That's great! It’s about time you got that done.

Yeah, I can't wait to see how it looks when it's finished.

Root Explanation

The word 'shingle' originates from Old English 'sceancol', meaning a thin piece of wood or a small, flat object. It refers specifically to a type of roofing material made from such thin pieces.

Memory Tip

Imagine a thin piece of wood ('sceancol') used for roofing — that's why 'shingle' refers to this flat roofing material.

Visually Confused Words