Quranic root
شطأ
sh · ṭ · ʾ
The root contains two distinct lexical fields: plant growth emerging around a base, and the side or bank of a valley or river.
The growth branch extends to shoots, offshoots, and branches, while the spatial branch denotes a bank, shore, edge, or side. The lexical sources treat these as distinct branches rather than one unified direct meaning.
- Maqāyīs · row 2637
- Lane · entry 38521
- Lane · entry 38526
- 2
- Quran-attested forms
- 3
- Quran senses
- 2
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
شَطْءٌ
shaṭʾun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
A shoot, sprout, or offshoot emerging from around the base or stem of a plant.
In the Quranic expression أَخْرَجَ شَطْأَهُ, it denotes the young growth put forth by the plant.
- Lane · entry 38523
Selected Quran examples
Quran 48:29word 34
“its shoot”
The extremity, ears, or individual plants of a crop.
These are alternative lexical interpretations of شَطْأَهُ in the Quranic expression, alongside the sense of shoots or sprouts.
- Lane · entry 38523
شَاطِئٌ
shāṭiʾun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
The bank, side, or shore of a valley, river, or sea; an edge or extremity.
In the Quranic occurrence, it denotes the side of a valley.
- Lane · entry 38526
Selected Quran examples
Quran 28:30word 5
“(the) side”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 2 occurrencesBroader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 15 Classical meanings
شَطَأَ
To walk along the bank or side of a river.
A verbal use with the bank or side understood as the path of walking.
- Lane · entry 38518
شَطَأَ
To cut lengthwise into slices or strips, especially a camel’s hump or a skin or hide.
The object is a hump, skin, or hide cut into lengthwise pieces.
- Lane · entry 38518
شَطَأَ
To subdue, overcome, overpower, or master.
A transitive verbal use meaning to gain mastery over another.
- Lane · entry 38518
شَطَأَ
To approach sexually or have sexual intercourse.
A euphemistic transitive construction.
- Lane · entry 38518
شَطَأَ
To bind a saddle upon a she-camel.
Used in the construction شَطَأَ النَّاقَةَ.
- Lane · entry 38518
شَطَأَ
To burden heavily or overburden a camel with a load.
Used with بِالحِمْلِ in reference to imposing a heavy load.
- Lane · entry 38518
شَطَأَ
To have the strength or power to bear a load.
Said of a person or a camel with reference to the ability to carry a load.
- Lane · entry 38518
شَطَأَ
To cast forth a child from the womb.
A construction describing a mother’s expelling or giving birth to a child.
- Lane · entry 38518
شَطَّأَ
Of a valley, to have its two sides flowing with water.
The construction refers specifically to the valley’s two banks or sides.
- Lane · entry 38519
شَاطَأَ
To walk along one bank of a river or valley while another person walks along the opposite bank.
A reciprocal or paired construction involving opposite sides.
- Lane · entry 38520
أَشْطَأَ
Of seed-produce, palm-trees, or trees, to put forth shoots, sprouts, or branches.
With crops and palms it refers to putting forth shoots; with trees it can refer to branches emerging around the base or stem.
- Lane · entry 38521
أَشْطَأَ
For a man to have a son who reaches manhood and becomes like him.
A figurative use describing a son’s maturation and resemblance to his father.
- Lane · entry 38521
شَطْيَأَ
To be weak in judgment and in one’s affairs.
Said of a person whose judgment or conduct is weak.
- Lane · entry 38522
شَطْأَةٌ
A green palm branch.
A nominal use for a fresh green branch of a palm.
- Lane · entry 38525
شَطْأَةٌ
A lengthwise slice or strip cut from a camel’s hump or from a skin or hide.
A concrete noun for a piece produced by lengthwise cutting.
- Lane · entry 38525
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The two Quranic forms represent distinct lexical branches: شَطْءٌ concerns plant growth, while شَاطِئٌ concerns a bank or side.
The Quranic plant expression has several reported interpretations—shoots, extremity, ears, or plants—which are preserved as alternative lexical readings rather than treated as unrelated forms.