Word
mow
/ˈmoʊ/
Definition
v. to cut down grass or grain using a machine or a sharp tool.
v. to cut down grass or other plants with a scythe or a mechanical device. Often used with 'down' to describe a forceful or rapid action.
Examples
“I need to mow the lawn this weekend.”
“The gardener spent the entire morning trying to mow the overgrown grass behind the old barn.”
“While modern tractors allow farmers to mow vast fields in hours, traditional methods required a team of workers to swing scythes in a rhythmic, coordinated motion from dawn until dusk.”
Examples
simple
“I need to mow the lawn this weekend.”
contextual
“The gardener spent the entire morning trying to mow the overgrown grass behind the old barn.”
complex
“While modern tractors allow farmers to mow vast fields in hours, traditional methods required a team of workers to swing scythes in a rhythmic, coordinated motion from dawn until dusk.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and typically takes 'lawn', 'grass', or 'field' as a direct object.
Pitfall
I mowed the grass with a scissors
I mowed the grass with a mower
Mow specifically refers to cutting with a machine or a scythe; smaller tools like scissors are not used with this verb.
Etymology
From Middle English mowen (participle mowen), from Old English māwan (past tense mēow, past participle māwen), from Proto-West Germanic māan, from Proto-Germanic mēaną, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂meh₁- (“to mow, reap”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian mjo (“to mow”), Dutch maaien (“to mow”), German mähen (“to mow”), Luxembourgish méien (“to mow”), Danish meje (“to mow”), Swedish meja (“to mow”); see also Hittite [script needed] (ḫamešḫa, “spring/early summer”, literally “mowing time”), Latin metō (“to harvest, mow”), Ancient Greek ἀμάω (amáō, “to mow”).
From Middle English mowe, from Old French moe (“grimace”), from Frankish mauwa (“pout, protruding lip”), from Proto-Germanic mawwō (“muff, sleeve”). Akin to Middle Dutch mouwe (“protruding lip”). Doublet of moue ("pout").
From Middle English mowe, form Old English mūga, mūha, from Proto-West Germanic mūgō, mūhō, from Proto-Germanic mūgô, mūhō; perhaps connected to Ancient Greek μύκων (múkōn, “heap”). Cognate with Norwegian muge (“heap, crowd, flock”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/mow