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snorkel

 
Dictionary: snor·kel   (snôr'kəl) pronunciation
 
n.
  1. A breathing apparatus used by swimmers and skin divers, consisting of a long tube held in the mouth.
  2. A retractable vertical tube in a diesel-engine submarine that contains air-intake and exhaust pipes for the engines and for ventilation, permitting extended periods of submergence at periscope depth.
intr.v., -keled, -kel·ing, -kels.

To dive using a snorkel.

[German Schnorchel, from dialectal, nose (from its resemblance in shape to a nose).]

snorkeler snor'kel·er n.
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snorkel, tube through which a submarine or diver can draw air while underwater. When in use, the top of the snorkel tube extends above the water surface into the air. The first snorkels were probably devised in ancient times out of the hollow reeds that are common to many lakes and marsh areas. Since they are mentioned by Pliny the Elder, a Roman naturalist of the 1st cent. A.D., it is certain that such devices were in use during the early years of the Roman Empire. The first modern snorkel was devised by Leonardo da Vinci at the request of the Venetian senate. It consisted of a hollow breathing tube that was attached to a diver's helmet of leather. The present-day diver's snorkel is typically a J-shaped tube that is open at the top and has a mouthpiece at the other end. Usually no more than 2 ft (61 cm) long, the snorkel can only be used as a breathing device when a diver is swimming face down near the surface. At greater depths, the diver must hold his breath and keep his tongue over the mouthpiece to prevent water seepage. When the diver nears the surface, a strong exhalation will clear the tube of water so that breathing can begin again. A common type of toy snorkel used by many children is S-shaped, with a plastic ball or cork that automatically rises into the upper part of the tube to prevent water seepage in subsurface dives. Because this simple valve works imperfectly, however, such snorkels are not used by skilled divers. The extensible snorkel of the submarine is usually used while the ship is submerged at about periscope depth. The air it supplies is necessary for the operation of the vessel's diesel engines. A submarine snorkel is normally equipped with safety devices that prevent seepage even if the water level should rise above the tube. When the devices are in use, the engines operate with air from the interior of the vessel. The engines are, in turn, equipped with devices that halt their operation when the air pressure in the submarine falls below about 12 psi (83×103N per sq m). Engine exhaust is discharged through a pipe somewhat shorter than the snorkel.


 
WordNet: snorkel
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Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has 2 meanings:

Meaning #1: breathing device consisting of a bent tube fitting into a swimmer's mouth and extending above the surface; allows swimmer to breathe while face down in the water

Meaning #2: air passage provided by a retractable device containing intake and exhaust pipes; permits a submarine to stay submerged for extended periods of time
  Synonyms: schnorkel, schnorchel, snorkel breather, breather


The verb snorkel has one meaning:

Meaning #1: dive with a snorkel


 
Translations: Snorkel
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Dansk (Danish)
n. - snorkel
v. intr. - snorkle

Nederlands (Dutch)
snorkelen, snorkel

Français (French)
n. - snorchel, tuba
v. intr. - pratiquer la plongée sous-marine avec un tuba

Deutsch (German)
v. - schnorcheln
n. - Schnorchel

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - κολυμπώ με αναπνευστήρα
n. - αναπνευστήρας (για καταδύσεις)

Italiano (Italian)
immersione con maschera e boccaglio, snorkel, tubo

Português (Portuguese)
n. - tubo de respiração para mergulhador

Русский (Russian)
шноркель, дыхательная трубка

Español (Spanish)
n. - tubo respiratorio, esnórquel
v. intr. - bucear con tubo respiratorio

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - simma under vattnet med snorkel
n. - snorkel, andningsrör, luftrör

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
水下通气管, 潜艇换气装置, 使用水下呼吸管潜游

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 水下通氣管, 潛艇換氣裝置
v. intr. - 使用水下呼吸管潛游

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 두 개의 튜브에 의한 잠수함의 환기 장치, 잠수 중에 호흡하는 관, 소화용 수압 가중기
v. intr. - 스노클로 잠수하여 헤엄치다

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - シュノーケル

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يسبح تحت ألماء بالاستعانه بأنبوب طيويل لأستنشاق ألهواء (الاسم) أداة للتنفس أثناء ألسباحه تحت ألماء‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮מכשיר נשימה לצוללים, שנורקל, משטח מתרומם לכבאים‬
v. intr. - ‮השתמש במכשיר נשימה לצוללים‬


 
 

 

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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/  Read more
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