trough

[ trawf, trof or, sometimes, trawth, troth ]

/ trɔf, trɒf or, sometimes, trɔθ, trɒθ /

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See synonyms for: trough / troughs / troughlike on Thesaurus.com

noun

a long, narrow, open receptacle, usually boxlike in shape, used chiefly to hold water or food for animals.

any of several similarly shaped receptacles used for various commercial or household purposes.

a channel or conduit for conveying water, as a gutter under the eaves of a building for carrying away rainwater.

any long depression or hollow, as between two ridges or waves.

Oceanography. a long, wide, and deep depression in the ocean floor having gently sloping sides, wider and shallower than a trench.Compare trench (def. 4).

Meteorology. an elongated area of relatively low pressure.

the lowest point, especially in an economic cycle.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of trough

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English trōh; cognate with Dutch, German, Old Norse trog

OTHER WORDS FROM trough

troughlike, adjective

Words nearby trough

trouble someone for, trouble spot, troublous, trouch, trou-de-loup, trough, trough roof, trounce, troupe, trouper, troupial

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use trough in a sentence

Cooler air in the core of the trough aloft will help destabilize the atmosphere, and increase the winds in middle levels of the atmosphere.
After producing several tornado warnings and funnel clouds, storms exiting region|Jason Samenow, Jeffrey Halverson|July 29, 2021|Washington Post
Outside of Austin, I found the NLand Surf Park, which had a mechanical wave that breaks using a man-made trough.
My Quest to Surf Every Coastal State|eriley|July 28, 2021|Outside Online
The line is straighter where the peaks and troughs are less for now.
Future of TV Briefing: The free, ad-supported streaming TV market has come of age|Tim Peterson|July 21, 2021|Digiday
Like a wave on water, you can think of a light wave as a series of peaks and troughs moving through space.
Japan Sets New Record for Internet Speed at 319 Terabits per Second|Jason Dorrier|July 18, 2021|Singularity Hub

With an influx of shoppers expected to flood to the site on its Prime Days on June 21 and 22, now is the time to put up an electric fence preventing Google from feeding off that valuable data trough.
Amazon is blocking Google’s FLoC — and that could seriously weaken the fledgling tracking system|Kate Kaye|June 15, 2021|Digiday
Plunging toward the trough of a shockwave, the engine screams to a halt.
Hayao Miyazaki’s ‘The Wind Rises’: An Anime Icon Bows Out|Andrew Romano|November 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It was time for the cattle to drink from their watering trough.
A New Christmas Literary Classic: Donald Hall’s ‘Christmas at Eagle Pond’|Nicholas Mancusi|December 25, 2012|DAILY BEAST
In the famous case of Solyndra, newly released emails reveal what the feeding trough looks like.
Three Easy Ways to End Cronyism|Peter Schweizer|August 1, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Over the course of two to three months they teach freshly weaned calves how to eat from a bunk and drink from a water trough.
An American Prairie Feast|Sophie Menin|July 17, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Strangely, the year marked a trough, since their 1996 return reported donations of $35,530.
The Stingiest Politicians|The Daily Beast|April 16, 2010|DAILY BEAST
And right after that, some nice sour milk would come splashing down into the trough of the pen.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum
But there was nothing in the trough to eat, as yet, and the box seemed quite lonesome, for Squinty was all alone.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum
As soon as he was in it Squinty ran over to the trough, hoping there would be some sour milk in it.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum
None of his brothers or sisters was near him, and he could not hear his mamma or papa grunting near the feed trough.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum
His duty it was to stand at the head of the scalding trough, watch in hand, to "time" the length of the scald, crying "Hog in!"
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various

British Dictionary definitions for trough

trough

/ (trɒf) /

noun

a narrow open container, esp one in which food or water for animals is put

a narrow channel, gutter, or gulley

a narrow depression either in the land surface, ocean bed, or between two successive waves

meteorol an elongated area of low pressure, esp an extension of a depressionCompare ridge (def. 6)

a single or temporary low point; depression

physics the portion of a wave, such as a light wave, in which the amplitude lies below its average value

economics the lowest point or most depressed stage of the trade cycle

verb

(intr) informal to eat, consume, or take greedily

Derived forms of trough

troughlike, adjective

Word Origin for trough

Old English trōh; related to Old Saxon, Old Norse trog trough, Dutch trügge ladle

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

Scientific definitions for trough

trough

[ trôf ]

The part of a wave with the least magnitude; the lowest part of a wave. Compare crest. See more at wave.

A narrow, elongated region of relatively low atmospheric pressure occurring at the ground surface or in the upper atmosphere, and often associated with a front. Compare ridge.

trough

Origin of trough

OTHER WORDS FROM trough

Words nearby trough

Words related to trough

How to use trough in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for trough

Derived forms of trough

Word Origin for trough

Scientific definitions for trough