plough

American  

[plou] / plaʊ /

noun

Chiefly British.

1. plow.

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plough ¹ British  

/ plaʊ /

noun

1. an agricultural implement with sharp blades, attached to a horse, tractor, etc, for cutting or turning over the earth

2. any of various similar implements, such as a device for clearing snow

3. a plane with a narrow blade for cutting grooves in wood

4. (in agriculture) ploughed land

5. to begin or undertake a task

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verb

1. to till (the soil) with a plough

2. to make (furrows or grooves) in (something) with or as if with a plough

3. to move (through something) in the manner of a plough

   the ship ploughed the water

4. to work at slowly or perseveringly

5. (intr; foll by into or through) (of a vehicle) to run uncontrollably into something in its path

   the plane ploughed into the cottage roof

6. (tr; foll by in, up, under, etc) to turn over (a growing crop, manure, etc) into the earth with a plough

7. slang (intr) to fail an examination

Plough ² British  

/ plaʊ /

noun

1. Usual US name: the Big Dipper.  Also known as: Charles's Wain.  the group of the seven brightest stars in the constellation Ursa Major

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Other Word Forms

• plougher noun
• unploughed adjective

Etymology

Origin of plough

Old English plōg plough land; related to Old Norse plogr, Old High German pfluoc

Example Sentences

In Scotland, snow ploughs were used to clear some train tracks but ScotRail services experienced significant disruption.

From BBC

He said the authority had 15 snowploughs out on the roads, 14 pavement ploughs - and had hired in another 24 diggers to clear the snow.

From BBC

Eurostar trains were unable to reach the Netherlands and Network Rail Scotland warned of "exceptionally deep snow" limiting the progress of snow ploughs.

From BBC

Heavy snow is still causing disruption to trains across northern Scotland, with Network Rail Scotland warning "exceptionally deep snow and severe weather conditions" are limiting the progress of its snow ploughs.

From BBC

Other vehicles, including a snow plough, became stuck in the snow and ice.

From BBC