shingle.

1. small rounded stones collectively forming a beach or shore

2. A thin overlapping piece used to cover a roof or exterior wall.

3. A small sign identifying a business or professional office, especially in American usage.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• shingle beach
• loose shingle
• stretch of shingle

On the page

The wave withdrew with a rattle of shingle.

They crossed the loose shingle above the tide line.

A narrow strip of shingle separated the cliffs from the sea.

Usage notes

Primary curation section: Environment. The shore sense is usually uncountable and chiefly British. A separate countable sense names an overlapping roofing tile or board. Shore sense: normally uncountable. Roofing sense: plural shingles.