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• plough
  plough

  noun

  plow.
• Plough
  Plough

  noun

  the group of the seven brightest stars in the constellation Ursa Major

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

The world’s largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev, said this week it would plough $600 million into its operations in the U.S., where it makes Budweiser and other labels.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

But the company pledged in its latest results to plough even more money into AI - something big tech bosses say they will spend eye-watering sums on this year.

From BBC • Feb. 6, 2026

In her victory speech, the 39-year-old said she would plough ahead with the policies introduced by Chaves, whose chief of staff she was.

From BBC • Feb. 2, 2026

The EU last year also launched a raft of initiatives that it says could see its members plough an additional 800 billion euros into defence.

From Barron's • Jan. 28, 2026

‘The strongest must seek a way, say you? But I say: let a ploughman plough, but choose an otter for swimming, and for running light over grass and leaf, or over snow — an Elf.’

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien