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sandspit

sandspit

5.3
A narrow strip of sand that reaches into the water from the shore
  • noun
  • /ˈsændˌspɪt/
translation icon : banco de arena
  • A swimmer would have to contrive to make land somewhere between the rock wall to the north and the reef and sandspit on the right.

Examples

  • Beyond the reef was a sandspit where the island tapered to its narrow southern end.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • The sandspit extended out into the peaceful bay, making it a perfect spot for birds to rest.

  • On our hike, we discovered a long sandspit that was ideal for spotting seals basking in the sun.

  • As the tide receded, the sandspit became more visible, connecting the beach to the nearby island.

Synonyms

sandbar
vssandspit
  • US
11 2.8

A long narrow area of sand in a river or sea near the shore

extends from the shore outward rather than lying mostly parallel to it
sandbank
vssandspit
  • UK
1 3.2

A raised area of sand in a river or by the sea that appears at low tide

extends outward as a narrow formation rather than forming a broad raised area
batture
vssandspit
  • Specialized
9.9

A strip of sand or mud along a riverbank that appears when the water is low

extends into water from the shore rather than appearing only at low river levels

Surface Forms

sandspit singular
sandspits plural

Morphology

sandspit = sand + spit (transparent) = sand + spit

The meaning is a direct combination of 'sand' and the geographic sense of 'spit', so learners can derive the meaning from the components.

Etymology

Sandspit is simply sand + spit, where spit here means a narrow 'tongue' or point of land rather than the action of spitting. So a sandspit is a sandy 'tongue' that reaches out from the shore into the water.