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

Reising wore skis as he and other officials measured snow in a slushy meadow at Phillips Station near South Lake Tahoe, where rains in the last week began to melt the snow.

From Los Angeles Times

A burrow was situated in a beautiful meadow recently released from its snow covering.

From Literature

The meadow and river were the inspiration for The Wind In The Willows.

From BBC

I always imagined the countryside would be full of green grass and colorful wildflowers—maybe with a bubbling stream where ducks swim or a red barn to house the horses grazing in a nearby meadow.

From Literature

As far as I could see, we were alone on the footpath that ran from the Austins’ orchard to the meadow.

From Literature

Related Words

• grassland
• pasture
• plain
• prairie