trough

[trawf, trof, trawth, troth]

noun

1. a long, narrow, open receptacle, usually boxlike in shape, used chiefly to hold water or food for animals.

2. any of several similarly shaped receptacles used for various commercial or household purposes.

3. a channel or conduit for conveying water, as a gutter under the eaves of a building for carrying away rainwater.

4. any long depression or hollow, as between two ridges or waves.

5. Oceanography.,  a long, wide, and deep depression in the ocean floor having gently sloping sides, wider and shallower than a trench.

6. Meteorology.,  an elongated area of relatively low pressure.

7. the lowest point, especially in an economic cycle.

trough

/ trɒf /

noun

1. a narrow open container, esp one in which food or water for animals is put

2. a narrow channel, gutter, or gulley

3. a narrow depression either in the land surface, ocean bed, or between two successive waves

4. meteorol an elongated area of low pressure, esp an extension of a depression Compare ridge

5. a single or temporary low point; depression

6. physics the portion of a wave, such as a light wave, in which the amplitude lies below its average value

7. economics the lowest point or most depressed stage of the trade cycle

verb

1. informal,  (intr) to eat, consume, or take greedily

trough

1. The part of a wave with the least magnitude; the lowest part of a wave.

2. Compare crest See more at wave

3. A narrow, elongated region of relatively low atmospheric pressure occurring at the ground surface or in the upper atmosphere, and often associated with a front.

4. Compare ridge

Other Word Forms

• troughlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of trough¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English trōh; cognate with Dutch, German, Old Norse trog

Word History and Origins

Origin of trough¹

Old English trōh ; related to Old Saxon, Old Norse trog trough, Dutch trügge ladle

Example Sentences

The food bank said it sees peaks and troughs in numbers throughout the year, but added there had been an overall increase in people needing support in 2025.

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A large trough is expected to move through the West Coast by early next week, bringing cooler temperatures to the region through Tuesday and wet conditions in northern California.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"There are peaks and troughs. Just like we don't always have the same appetite every day, it's the same for our kids."

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"There's big peaks and troughs, and we've got to build resilience into the business," she said.

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This means that important features like troughs and ridges could be missed, which would make the difference between a dry day, or a day with heavy rain.

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Related Words

• trench