furrow

American  

[fur-oh, fuhr-oh] / ˈfɜr oʊ, ˈfʌr oʊ /

noun

1. a narrow groove made in the ground, especially by a plow.

2. a narrow groovelike or trenchlike depression in any surface.

   the furrows of a wrinkled face.

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verb (used with object)

furrows, present (3rd person singular) furrowed, past participle, past furrowing present participle

1. to make a furrow or furrows in.

2. to make wrinkles in (the face).

   to furrow one's brow.

verb (used without object)

furrows, present (3rd person singular) furrowed, past participle, past furrowing present participle

1. to become furrowed.

furrow British  

/ ˈfʌrəʊ /

noun

1. a long narrow trench made in the ground by a plough or a trench resembling this

2. any long deep groove, esp a deep wrinkle on the forehead

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verb

1. to develop or cause to develop furrows or wrinkles

2. to make a furrow or furrows in (land)

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unfurrowed
  adjective
• furrower
  noun
• furrowlike
  adjective
• furrowless
  adjective
• furrowy
  adjective
• furrow-like
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have furrowed
  perfect
• has furrowed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• is furrowing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• have been furrowing
  perfect progressive
• are furrowing
  progressive
• has been furrowing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• am furrowing
  progressive 1st person singular
• furrowing
  participle
• furrows
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had furrowed
  perfect
• was furrowing
  progressive singular
• had been furrowing
  perfect progressive
• furrowed
  participle
• were furrowing
  progressive plural
• furrowed
  simple

Future

• will furrow
  simple
• will have furrowed
  perfect
• will be furrowing
  progressive
• will have been furrowing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of furrow

before 900; Middle English forwe, furgh, Old English furh; cognate with Old Frisian furch, Old High German fur ( u ) h ( German Furche ), Latin porca ridge between furrows

Explanation

A furrow is a groove or a depression. Originally, furrows were created in soil for water to flow. Now, its most common meaning is of a deep line or wrinkle on the face, as in a "furrowed brow." Furrow is related to the old English word farrow, meaning "to root like a swine," which makes sense, seeing as both acts create trenches in the earth. Sometimes a furrow simply means the impression left by a cart wheel or tire track in the mud. In a non-agricultural sense, a furrow is also simply a slight groove or depression or series of indentations in the surface of any object.

Example Sentences

Furrow could not be reached for comment, but in an interview with CBS’ “48 Hours,” he said he had “nothing to do with any of this.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 8, 2018

Many other states immunize both the physician and the hospital, said Barry Furrow, director of the health law program at Drexel University.

From Washington Times • Apr. 4, 2018

Furrow irrigation, like that found in the orchards of California, is 64% efficient at getting water into plants for transpiration and growth, as opposed to being lost through evaporation or percolation deep into the soil.

From Nature • Sep. 25, 2013

In 1895, John Deere started to publish The Furrow,  a magazine that featured educational material for farmers.

From Forbes • Jul. 8, 2013

Farmer Furrow, while he is plowing yonder field.

From The Shepherd of Salisbury Plain and Other Tales by More, Hannah