meadow

American  

[med-oh] / ˈmɛd oʊ /

noun

1. a tract of grassland used for pasture or serving as a hayfield.

   Synonyms:

   field, range, green

2. a tract of grassland in an upland area near the timberline.

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meadow British  

/ ˈmɛdəʊ /

noun

1. an area of grassland, often used for hay or for grazing of animals

2. a low-lying piece of grassland, often boggy and near a river

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Other Word Forms

• meadowless adjective
• meadowy adjective

Etymology

Origin of meadow

before 1000; Middle English medwe, Old English mǣdw-, oblique stem of mǣd mead ²; akin to German Matte

Example Sentences

The deep areas held no houses, no buildings, just some woods, occasional planted fields, meadows, and paths.

From Literature

The giant porcupine across the meadow glared back.

From Literature

Hay meadows are highly valuable for farmers as a crop and as a support for pollinators.

From BBC

With the snow gone, early signs of spring were all around us by now, the trees budding, the meadows and hedgerows dotted with flowers.

From Literature

Efforts to enhance the health of forests and mountain meadows, she said, also are important so the landscape can naturally absorb and store water.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• grassland
• pasture
• plain
• prairie