Words / A1

SNAYL/sneɪl/

A snail is a small slow animal that carries a spiral shell on its back. Countable: a snail, snails. A slug looks similar but has no shell; a tortoise is much larger and lives on land with a different shell. Mix-up: snail vs nail (on your finger, or for wood) — extra s; and snail vs snake (no shell, faster).

Meaning

A small slow animal with a shell on its back.

Examples

• “A snail is on the lettuce.”
• “The snail left a silver trail on the path.”
• “Do not step on the snail.”

Good to know

a snail (slow, spiral shell). Contrast: slug (no shell), tortoise (larger). Mix-up: nail, snake.

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