furrow

[ fur-oh, fuhr-oh ]

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.

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

/ 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

verb

1. to develop or cause to develop furrows or wrinkles
2. to make a furrow or furrows in (land)

Derived Forms

• ˈfurrow-ˌlike, adjective
• ˈfurrower, noun
• ˈfurrowless, adjective

Other Words From

• furrow·er noun
• furrow·less adjective
• furrow·like adjective
• furrow·y adjective
• un·furrowed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of furrow¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of furrow¹

Old English furh ; related to Old Frisian furch , Old Norse for , Old High German furuh furrow, Latin porca ridge between furrows

Example Sentences

Imprinted on a knobby rock about as big as an orange were the folds, furrows and even blood vessels of a brain.

From Science News

Her eyebrows furrow with pain, her mouth falls open in shock, her hand reaching out to be saved.

From The Daily Beast

He was fidgety, furrow-faced, almost entirely unsmiling, and largely inarticulate.

From The Daily Beast

"He wouldn't be likely to notice you if you crept along the bottom of a furrow," Mr. Blackbird assured Grandfather Mole.

From Project Gutenberg

I picked up the handles and lifted the plough around, setting the point to the new furrow.

From Project Gutenberg

In fact, there had never been an owner for the land nor a furrow turned here since the dawn of creation.

From Project Gutenberg

Oar and keel, pebble and arrow, wind and current, are alike powerless to make a furrow that shall last.

From Project Gutenberg

Behind him wavered a long, deep-gouged furrow-trail, pitiful attest of suffering.

From Project Gutenberg