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)

1. to make a furrow or furrows in.

2. to make wrinkles in (the face).

   to furrow one's brow.

verb (used without object)

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

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

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

Ploughing a similar furrow is Israel's Noam Bettan, whose heart has been shredded by a femme fatale called Michelle.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

The evidence points to more intensive farming methods, such as ridge and furrow ploughing to limit erosion and more focused gardening practices.

From Science Daily • Apr. 27, 2026

"So I tried to take a pretty free hand with it and kind of plow my own furrow."

From Barron's • Mar. 1, 2026

Harris is exceptionally good at the furrow, the side-eye, the chin stroke, and the silent, syrup-scented “Bless his heart.”

From Slate • Sep. 11, 2024

She didn’t notice the faint furrow of worry that this piece of information produced on the Inspector’s brow.

From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy