shingle
word
Definition
A shingle is a thin, flat piece of material (like wood, slate, or asphalt) used to cover roofs or walls. "Shingle" can also mean a small, smooth stone found on beaches, or, in medical contexts, refers to shingles (herpes zoster), a painful skin rash.
Usage & Nuances
As a noun, 'shingle' is most commonly used in construction and roofing ('roof shingle'), less often for beach pebbles ('a shingle beach'), and as the medical term for herpes zoster ('shingles', usually plural). Be careful: 'shingles' (disease) is always plural, but 'shingle' (roofing/stone) is usually singular.
Example Sentences
The roof is covered with wooden shingles.
basic
He collected a smooth shingle from the beach.
basic
Shingles can cause a painful rash.
basic
After the storm, several shingles were missing from the roof.
natural
There's a pretty shingle path leading to the beach.
natural
My uncle had shingles last year; it was really tough for him.
natural