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
The plowers passed into them and out again, loomed now and then dwindled in the mist as the moods of light pleased.
The Iron Ration | George Abel SchreinerAccording to another metaphor, “the plowers plowed upon his back; they made long their furrows.”
Sermons of Christmas Evans | Joseph Cross
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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