harrow
1[ har-oh ]
/ ˈhær oʊ /
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noun
an agricultural implement with spikelike teeth or upright disks, drawn chiefly over plowed land to level it, break up clods, root up weeds, etc.
verb (used with object)
to draw a harrow over (land).
to disturb keenly or painfully; distress the mind, feelings, etc., of.
verb (used without object)
to become broken up by harrowing, as soil.
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Origin of harrow
11250–1300; Middle English harwe; akin to Old Norse herfi harrow, Dutch hark rake, Greek krṓpion sickle
OTHER WORDS FROM harrow
har·row·er, nounOther definitions for harrow (2 of 3)
harrow2
[ har-oh ]
/ ˈhær oʊ /
verb (used with object) Archaic.
to ravish; violate; despoil.
(of Christ) to descend into (hell) to free the righteous held captive.
Origin of harrow
2OTHER WORDS FROM harrow
har·row·ment, nounOther definitions for harrow (3 of 3)
Harrow
[ har-oh ]
/ ˈhær oʊ /
noun
a borough of Greater London, in SE England.
a boarding school for boys, founded in 1571 at Harrow-on-the-Hill, an urban district near London, England.
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use harrow in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for harrow (1 of 3)
harrow1
/ (ˈhærəʊ) /
noun
any of various implements used to level the ground, stir the soil, break up clods, destroy weeds, etc, in soil
verb
(tr) to draw a harrow over (land)
(intr) (of soil) to become broken up through harrowing
(tr) to distress; vex
Derived forms of harrow
harrower, nounharrowing, adjective, nounWord Origin for harrow
C13: of Scandinavian origin; compare Danish harv, Swedish harf; related to Middle Dutch harke rake
British Dictionary definitions for harrow (2 of 3)
harrow2
/ (ˈhærəʊ) /
verb (tr) archaic
to plunder or ravish
(of Christ) to descend into (hell) to rescue righteous souls
Derived forms of harrow
harrowment, nounWord Origin for harrow
C13: variant of Old English hergian to harry
British Dictionary definitions for harrow (3 of 3)
Harrow
/ (ˈhærəʊ) /
noun
a borough of NW Greater London; site of an English boys' public school founded in 1571 at Harrow-on-the-Hill, a part of this borough. Pop: 210 700 (2003 est). Area: 51 sq km (20 sq miles)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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