# beach

/ˈbitʃ/ (US) · /bˈiːtʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/beach
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. sandy shore

noun · CEFR A1

an area of sand or small stones next to the sea or a lake.

For teachers: the shore of a body of water, particularly a coastal strip characterized by sand, gravel, or pebbles.

- The children spent the whole afternoon building sandcastles on the beach.
- The coastline is famous for its secluded beaches, where the white sand contrasts sharply with the jagged limestone cliffs.

### 2. pebbles or shingle

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Dialect

the small, smooth stones found on some shores.

For teachers: the loose pebbles or shingle of the seashore, often worn smooth by wave action.

- The beach was so rocky that it was difficult to walk without thick shoes.
- In certain parts of Kent, the term refers specifically to the deep layers of beach that protect the low-lying marshland from the tide.

Usage: In this dialectal sense, the word is often used as an uncountable noun referring to the material itself.

### 3. euphemism for a swear word

noun · CEFR B2 · Humorous · Informal · Slang

a word used instead of a common insult to avoid being rude.

For teachers: a phonetic euphemism for the word 'bitch', used to avoid censorship or social taboo.

- Stop being such a beach and help me with these heavy bags.
- The comedian frequently substituted 'beach' for more aggressive profanities to maintain a family-friendly rating while still conveying the intended frustration.

### 4. to bring a boat ashore

verb · CEFR B2

to pull a boat out of the water and onto the sand.

For teachers: to pull or drive a vessel onto the shore, either intentionally for maintenance or accidentally.

- We managed to beach the small boat before the storm got too bad.
- The sailors were forced to beach the leaking catamaran on a sandbar to prevent it from sinking in the deep channel.

### 5. to get stuck

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal · Technical

to get a vehicle stuck on the ground so the wheels cannot move.

For teachers: to run a vehicle onto an obstacle or soft ground such that the chassis rests on the surface, depriving the wheels of traction.

- He tried to drive over the dirt pile but beached his car instead.
- The off-road vehicle was beached on a hidden stump, leaving the driver with all four wheels spinning uselessly in the air.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.