ENGLISH
REFERENCE

plow

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈpɫaʊ// plow Archaic Informal Vulgar

n. a heavy piece of farm equipment with a blade used to turn over soil. Farmers use it to prepare the ground for planting seeds.

n. a large farming implement with one or more blades fixed in a frame, used to turn over soil and cut furrows. Often spelled 'plough' in British English.


SIMPLE

The farmer pulled the plow behind his tractor.

CONTEXTUAL

Before the spring planting can begin, the field must be turned over with a heavy plow to aerate the soil.

COMPLEX

The transition from wooden to iron-tipped plows allowed ancient civilizations to cultivate tougher soils, significantly increasing food production and supporting larger urban populations.

Synonyms
Usage

Commonly used in the phrase 'under the plow' to describe land used for farming.

Pitfall

The farmer used a plough in New York.The farmer used a plow in New York.While 'plough' is the standard British spelling, 'plow' is the required spelling in American English.

Idioms8 entries

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