trawler: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral in maritime contexts, technical in fishing industry.
Quick answer
What does “trawler” mean?
A fishing boat that uses a trawl net to catch fish.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A fishing boat that uses a trawl net to catch fish.
Can refer to any vessel or person engaged in trawling, or metaphorically to something that searches or gathers extensively.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in maritime English.
Grammar
How to Use “trawler” in a Sentence
the trawler's crewa trawler from the portVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the fishing industry for discussing operations, logistics, and economics.
Academic
Referenced in studies related to marine biology, environmental science, and maritime history.
Everyday
Common in news reports about fishing, maritime incidents, or coastal communities.
Technical
Specified in naval architecture, fishing gear technology, and maritime regulations.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “trawler”
- Confusing 'trawler' with 'troller' or misspelling as 'traveler'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A trawler uses a trawl net that is dragged through the water to catch fish, while a troller uses fishing lines with baited hooks that are towed behind the boat.
No, 'trawler' is a noun. The verb form is 'trawl', meaning to fish with a trawl net or to search thoroughly.
It is not extremely common in daily conversation but is frequently used in contexts related to fishing, maritime news, and coastal communities.
Yes, trawlers, especially bottom trawlers, can cause habitat destruction and bycatch, leading to debates over sustainable fishing practices.
A fishing boat that uses a trawl net to catch fish.
Trawler is usually neutral in maritime contexts, technical in fishing industry. in register.
Trawler: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtrɔː.lər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtrɑː.lɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember 'trawl' means to drag a net, so a 'trawler' is the boat that does the trawling.
Conceptual Metaphor
Used metaphorically for entities that gather or search extensively, e.g., 'data trawler' for software that collects data.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a trawler?