windrow

American  

[wind-roh, win-] / ˈwɪndˌroʊ, ˈwɪn- /

noun

1. a row or line of hay raked together to dry before being raked into heaps.

2. any similar row, as of sheaves of grain, made for the purpose of drying.

3. a row of dry leaves, dust, etc., swept together by the wind.

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verb (used with object)

1. to arrange in a windrow.

windrow British  

/ ˈwɪndˌrəʊ, ˈwɪnˌrəʊ /

noun

1. a long low ridge or line of hay or a similar crop, designed to achieve the best conditions for drying or curing

2. a line of leaves, snow, dust, etc, swept together by the wind

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verb

1. (tr) to put (hay or a similar crop) into windrows

Other Word Forms

• windrower
  noun

Etymology

Origin of windrow

First recorded in 1515–25; wind ¹ + row ¹

Example Sentences

One of the walls is black with mould, which is also around the windrow frame and along the ceiling.

From BBC • Aug. 15, 2023

“You had people showing up to turn a windrow — which is a compost pile — week after week.”

From New York Times • May 28, 2018

He took part in the Boston Tea Party which "spread a windrow of tea from Boston all the way to Dorchester."

From Time Magazine Archive

Piled in a windrow in one corner of the room was a great heap of clothing.

From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy

She watched the sweep of a gull following the crested windrow of the breakers on a near-by reef, busy with his fishing.

From Cap'n Abe, Storekeeper by Cooper, James A.