plow

[ plou ]

/ plaʊ /

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See synonyms for: plow / plowed / plowable / plower on Thesaurus.com

noun

an agricultural implement used for cutting, lifting, turning over, and partly pulverizing soil.

any of various implements resembling or suggesting this, as a kind of plane for cutting grooves or a contrivance for clearing away snow from a road or track.

Type Founding. (formerly) an instrument for cutting the groove in the foot of type.

Bookbinding. a device for trimming the edges of the leaves by hand.

(initial capital letter)Astronomy.

the constellation Ursa Major.
the Big Dipper.

verb (used with object)

to turn up (soil) with a plow.

to make (a furrow) with a plow.

to tear up, cut into, or make a furrow, groove, etc. in (a surface) with or as if with a plow (often followed by up): The tractor plowed up an acre of trees.

to clear by the use of a plow, especially a snowplow (sometimes followed by out): The city's work crews were busily plowing the streets after the blizzard.

to invest, as capital (often followed by into): to plow several hundred million into developing new oil fields.

to reinvest or reutilize (usually followed by back): to plow profits back into new plants and equipment.

(of a ship, boat, animal, etc.)

to cleave the surface of (the water): beavers plowing the pond.
to make (a way) or follow (a course) in this manner: The yacht plowed an easterly course through the choppy Atlantic.

Slang: Vulgar. to have sexual intercourse with.

verb (used without object)

to till the soil or work with a plow.

to take plowing in a specified way: land that plows easily.

to move forcefully through something in the manner of a plow (often followed by through, into, along, etc.): The cop plowed through the crowd, chasing after the thief. The car plowed into our house.

to proceed in a slow, laborious, and steady manner (often followed by through): The researcher plowed through a pile of reports.

to move through water by cleaving the surface: a ship plowing through a turbulent sea.

Verb Phrases

plow under,

to bury under soil by plowing.
to cause to disappear; force out of existence; overwhelm: Many mom-and-pop groceries have been plowed under by the big chain stores.

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Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.

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Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?

The Sunflower State

The Evergreen State

The Magnolia State

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Also especially British, plough .

Origin of plow

before 1100; Middle English plouh, plugh(e), plough(e), Old English plōh; cognate with German Pflug plow

OTHER WORDS FROM plow

plow·a·ble, adjectiveplow·a·bil·i·ty, nounplower, nouno·ver·plow, verb

re·plow, verb (used with object), re·plowed, re·plow·ing.subplow, nounsub·plow, verbun·plow·a·ble, adjectiveun·plowed, adjectivewell-plowed, adjective

Words nearby plow

ploughshare, ploughstaff, plouk, Plovdiv, plover, plow, plowback, plowboy, plow into, plowman, Plowright

Example sentences from the Web for plow

The girl’s father had stepped in front of a city riding lawn mower that had a small plow attached after seeing her sledding toward it, police spokeswoman Andrea Escher said.
D.C. area’s biggest snowstorm in two years brings slick roads, but much-needed respite|Katherine Shaver, Emily Davies, Lauren Lumpkin|February 1, 2021|Washington Post
In the end the task force employed hundreds of dump trucks, front-end loaders, sanders, plows, rotaries, and flamethrowers to clear the way.
How a surprise snowstorm almost spoiled Kennedy’s inauguration 60 years ago|Kevin Ambrose, Jason Samenow|January 19, 2021|Washington Post
Snow pushers are essentially smaller, hand-powered versions of the industrial plow.
Best snow shovel: Clear your driveway fast|PopSci Commerce Team|January 19, 2021|Popular Science
Speaking of snow, a big storm could trap your vehicle in several feet of the stuff, and things can get even worse if a plow goes by and buries it further.
Gifts that every car owner should have|Rob Verger|December 18, 2020|Popular Science

You will also need a winch if you want to use a snow plow, which is nice to have during our extensive Alaskan winters.
Six ways to make your ATV even more rugged|By Tyler Freel/Outdoor Life|September 17, 2020|Popular Science
Think the Frogtown settlers rinsed their tonsils with something that was “too wet to plow and too thick to drink”?
Toledo: The Town Too Tough for Toxic Water|P. J. O’Rourke|August 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Speed-the-Plow is a particularly interesting choice for Lohan.
Lindsay Lohan May Star in a West End Play. Is She Crazy?|Kevin Fallon|June 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Times, carefully couching its words, said it spoke with Lohan about a “potential appearance” in Speed-the-Plow.
Lindsay Lohan May Star in a West End Play. Is She Crazy?|Kevin Fallon|June 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
No matter: Christman and her conservative sisters remain unbowed and eager to plow ahead.
The 'RedState Women' Wooing Scheme|Michelle Cottle|April 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The horse has always been a tool for man, whether it was tied to a plow or pulling a carriage.
De Blasio Whipped by Horse Lobby|Josh Robin|March 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Cincinnatus will not back to his plow, or, at the best, stands sullenly between his plow-handles arguing for a higher wage.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
He hired an engine to plow all his land that was not prepared, besides renting a little more, and also took a flier in wheat.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
They do not have to plow or dig, or perform any other cultivation than that of clearing the land where they are to plant.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
The mode of culture is to plow between the rows and hoe the plants carefully.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
Scattergood had first encountered her when she came to his hardware store to buy a plow.
Scattergood Baines|Clarence Budington Kelland

British Dictionary definitions for plow

plow

/ (plaʊ) /

noun, verb

the usual US spelling of plough

Derived forms of plow

plower, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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