Definition

The quantity that can be held in a spade or shovel at one time.

Example

He dug a spadeful of dirt to plant the tree.

Conversation

I need to move a spadeful of soil to the garden today.

That sounds like a lot of work! Do you need help?

Yeah, I could definitely use an extra pair of hands with that spadeful.

Sure! Let’s tackle it together this afternoon.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Spadeful → It is formed from "spade" (from Old English *spadu*, meaning a tool for digging) and "-ful" (meaning full of). The word "spadeful" means a quantity that fills a spade.

Memory Tip

Think of a spade, which is a tool for digging, and remember that a spadeful is a quantity that fills that tool.

Visually Confused Words