Definition

Walking through water or another liquid, typically shallow enough to not require swimming; can also refer to moving slowly through something difficult, as in 'wading through paperwork.' As a noun, it refers to the activity or the act of walking through water.

Example Usage

The children spent the afternoon wading in the creek, splashing and searching for smooth stones.

Origin

From Old English 'wadan' (to go, move), with Germanic roots related to 'wade' as a verb of movement through resistance.

Fun Fact

Wading birds, such as herons and sandpipers, have evolved long legs specifically adapted for wading in shallow water to hunt for food.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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