plow
an agricultural implement used for cutting, lifting, turning over, and partly pulverizing soil.
any of various implements resembling or suggesting this, as a kind of plane for cutting grooves or a contrivance for clearing away snow from a road or track.
Type Founding. (formerly) an instrument for cutting the groove in the foot of type.
Bookbinding. a device for trimming the edges of the leaves by hand.
(initial capital letter)Astronomy.
the constellation Ursa Major.
the Big Dipper.
to turn up (soil) with a plow.
to make (a furrow) with a plow.
to tear up, cut into, or make a furrow, groove, etc. in (a surface) with or as if with a plow (often followed by up): The tractor plowed up an acre of trees.
to clear by the use of a plow, especially a snowplow (sometimes followed by out): The city's work crews were busily plowing the streets after the blizzard.
to invest, as capital (often followed by into): to plow several hundred million into developing new oil fields.
to reinvest or reutilize (usually followed by back): to plow profits back into new plants and equipment.
(of a ship, boat, animal, etc.)
to cleave the surface of (the water): beavers plowing the pond.
to make (a way) or follow (a course) in this manner: The yacht plowed an easterly course through the choppy Atlantic.
Slang: Vulgar. to have sexual intercourse with.
to till the soil or work with a plow.
to take plowing in a specified way: land that plows easily.
to move forcefully through something in the manner of a plow (often followed by through, into, along, etc.): The cop plowed through the crowd, chasing after the thief. The car plowed into our house.
to proceed in a slow, laborious, and steady manner (often followed by through): The researcher plowed through a pile of reports.
to move through water by cleaving the surface: a ship plowing through a turbulent sea.
plow under,
to bury under soil by plowing.
to cause to disappear; force out of existence; overwhelm: Many mom-and-pop groceries have been plowed under by the big chain stores.
Origin of plow
1- Also especially British, plough .
Other words from plow
- plow·a·ble, adjective
- plow·a·bil·i·ty, noun
- plower, noun
- o·ver·plow, verb
- re·plow, verb (used with object), re·plowed, re·plow·ing.
- subplow, noun
- sub·plow, verb
- un·plow·a·ble, adjective
- un·plowed, adjective
- well-plowed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use plow in a sentence
People shoot themselves when they get it bad––green sheepherders and farmers that come in here to try to plow up the range.
The Flockmaster of Poison Creek | George W. OgdenJoaquin Miller advised the Virginians to "plow up their dogs and plant vineyards."
The Camp-life of the Third Regiment | Robert T. KerlinHe wants to plow up his cotton and put in something else, or he refuses to give his cotton the attention which it requires.
How to Prosper in Boll Weevil Territory | G. H. AlfordWe've either got to plow up a bunch of ground and plant some darn thing, or else get stock on and pasture it.
The Flying U's Last Stand | B. M. BowerThe plow-boy puts on his father's boots and proceeds to plow up the cunning little angle worm.
Remarks | Bill Nye
British Dictionary definitions for plow
/ (plaʊ) /
the usual US spelling of plough
Derived forms of plow
- plower, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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