- [countable]
a short pole with a flat wide part at one or both ends, that you hold in both hands and use for moving a small boat, especially a canoe, through water 桨；船桨 
- [countable]
a tool or part of a machine that is like a paddle in shape, especially one used for mixing food （机具的）桨状部分；（尤指）食物搅拌器的桨叶 - a paddle[singular] (British English)
an act or period of walking in shallow water with no shoes or socks 蹚水；赤脚涉水 - [countable] (North American English)
a bat used for playing table tennis 乒乓球拍 - [countable] (North American English)
a piece of wood with a handle, used in the past for hitting children as a punishment 戒尺（体罚儿童的工具）
Word Originnoun senses 1 to 2 and noun senses 4 to 5 late Middle English (denoting a small spade-like implement): of unknown origin. Current senses date from the 17th cent. noun sense 3 mid 16th cent.: of obscure origin; compare with Low German paddeln ‘tramp about’; the association with water remains unexplained.
Idioms
up the creek (without a paddle)
- (informal)
in a difficult or bad situation 处于困境（或窘境） If they won't accept my credit card, I'll really be up the creek. 如果他们不接受我的信用卡，我真的会陷入困境。