Illustration of auger
- 1
- 2 screw
- 3 tapering pod
: any of various tools or devices with a helical shaft or part that are used for boring holes (as in wood, soil, or ice) or moving loose material (such as snow)
Did you know?
The tool called an auger has nothing to do with people’s navels, but the words auger and navel are related. This tool was first used to bore a hole for the axle in the nave, or hub, of a wheel. Such a nave was called nafu in Old English. Nafu is related to the word nafela, which became our word navel. The Old English ancestor of auger was nafogar, which was made up of nafu and gar, meaning “spear.” By Middle English nafogar had lost a syllable and shrunk to nauger. Since a nauger sounds like an auger, people began to write an auger, and our modern spelling of the word was born.
Examples of auger in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The auger system and grain bin rescue tube are common rescue equipment used for grain bins.
—
Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Previous tests showed that dense ice under fresh snow or uneven patches could challenge its auger and path planning, and that careful configuration of its map and routes is key to success.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026
Once the lakes freeze over, visitors can draw their augers and set up shelters on any lake in the Black Hills National Forest.
—Ashlyn Ware, Midwest Living, 23 Jan. 2026
Power and speed 150 watts, 60-70 rpm Height x Width x Depth
17.2 x 6.8 x 8.5 inches
Feeder
2-liter set-and-forget hopper
Strainers
Two-part auger can make juice and sorbet; no separate strainers.
—Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for auger
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Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Previous tests showed that dense ice under fresh snow or uneven patches could challenge its auger and path planning, and that careful configuration of its map and routes is key to success.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026
Once the lakes freeze over, visitors can draw their augers and set up shelters on any lake in the Black Hills National Forest.
—Ashlyn Ware, Midwest Living, 23 Jan. 2026
Power and speed 150 watts, 60-70 rpm Height x Width x Depth
17.2 x 6.8 x 8.5 inches
Feeder
2-liter set-and-forget hopper
Strainers
Two-part auger can make juice and sorbet; no separate strainers.
—Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for auger
Cite this Entry
“Auger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/auger. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
auger
noun
au·ger
ˈȯ-gər 
: any of various tools made like a spiral or screw and used for boring holes or moving loose material
Etymology
Middle English auger "auger," an altered form of nauger, from Old English nafogār "tool for boring holes in the hub of a wheel"
Word Origin
The tool called an auger has nothing to do with people's navels, but the words auger and navel are related. This tool was first used to bore a hole for the axle in the nave or hub of a wheel. Such a nave was called nafu in Old English. Nafu is related to the word nafela, which has become our word navel. The Old English ancestor of auger was nafogār, which was made up of nafu and gār, meaning "spear." By Middle English nafogār had lost a syllable and shrunk to nauger, and it no longer made sense as a compound. Since a nauger sounds just like an auger, many people began to write an auger. That is how our modern spelling of the word was born.
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