Main Difference
The main difference between Shovel and Trowel is that the Shovel is a tool for digging, lifting, and moving bulk materials and Trowel is a one of many kinds of small hand tools used for digging, applying, smoothing, or moving small amounts of viscous or particulate material; common varieties include the masonry trowel, garden trowel, and float trowel
Shovel
A shovel is a tool for digging, lifting, and moving bulk materials, such as soil, coal, gravel, snow, sand, or ore.
Most shovels are hand tools consisting of a broad blade fixed to a medium-length handle. Shovel blades are usually made of sheet steel or hard plastics and are very strong. Shovel handles are usually made of wood (especially specific varieties such as ash or maple) or glass-reinforced plastic (fibreglass).
Hand shovel blades made of sheet steel usually have a folded seam or hem at the back to make a socket for the handle. This fold also commonly provides extra rigidity to the blade. The handles are usually riveted in place. A T-piece is commonly fitted to the end of the handle to aid grip and control where the shovel is designed for moving soil and heavy materials. These designs can all be easily mass-produced.
The term shovel also applies to larger excavating machines called power shovels, which serve the same purpose—digging, lifting, and moving material. Modern power shovels descend from steam shovels. Loaders and excavators (such as backhoes) perform similar work, etically speaking, but are not classified as shovels emically.
Hand shovels have been adapted for many different tasks and environments. They can be optimized for a single task or designed as cross-over or compromise multitaskers. It’s very useful in agriculture. Examples are given under “Types”.
Trowel
A trowel is a small hand tool used for digging, applying, smoothing, or moving small amounts of viscous or particulate material. Common varieties include the masonry trowel, garden trowel, and float trowel.
A power trowel is a much larger gasoline or electrically powered walk-behind device with rotating paddles used to finish concrete floors.
Shovel (noun)
A hand tool with a handle, used for moving portions of material such as earth, snow, and grain from one place to another, with some forms also used for digging. Not to be confused with a spade, which is designed solely for small-scale digging and incidental tasks such as chopping of small roots.
Shovel (noun)
A spade.
Shovel (verb)
To move materials with a shovel.
“The workers were shovelling gravel and tarmac into the pothole in the road.”
“After the blizzard, we shoveled the driveway for the next two days.”
“I don’t mind shoveling, but using a pickaxe hurts my back terribly.”
Shovel (verb)
To move with a shoveling motion.
Trowel (noun)
A mason’s tool, used in spreading and dressing mortar, and breaking bricks to shape them.
Trowel (noun)
A gardener’s tool, shaped like a scoop, used in taking up plants, stirring soil etc.
“I need to dig a hole for these begonias; would you pass me that trowel?”
Trowel (noun)
A tool used for smoothing a mold.
Trowel (verb)
To apply a substance with a trowel.
“He troweled the coarse mix with a twist, leaving a pattern of arcs.”
Trowel (verb)
To pass over with a trowel.
Trowel (verb)
To apply something heavily or unsubtly.