English Reference

Word

thatcher

Phoneticsthatch·er

US/ˈθætʃɝ/

UK/θˈætʃɐ/

Definition

n. a machine or tool used to remove dead grass and leaves from a lawn.

n. a mechanical device or mower attachment designed to remove thatch—the layer of organic debris—from a lawn.

Examples

“The thatcher is working on the old cottage roof today.”

“Because the village has many historic buildings, a skilled thatcher is always in high demand for maintenance.”

“The craft of the thatcher requires years of apprenticeship to master the precise layering of reeds that ensures a roof remains watertight for decades.”

Examples

simple

“The thatcher is working on the old cottage roof today.”

contextual

“Because the village has many historic buildings, a skilled thatcher is always in high demand for maintenance.”

complex

“The craft of the thatcher requires years of apprenticeship to master the precise layering of reeds that ensures a roof remains watertight for decades.”

Teaching tip

In technical gardening contexts, this is often called a 'dethatcher'.

Real-World Examples

“Then, too, Britain was grappling with tensions over immigration and race riots, soaring unemployment and long-term economic decline that Thatcher had been elected pledging to reverse.”
The Guardian · 4 Sept 2026
“In her ebullient 1998 debut The New Feminism, Walter hailed Margaret Thatcher as a trailblazer.”
The Guardian · 25 Aug 2026

Etymology

From thatcher.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Synonyms

dethatcherscarifier

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Frequent
Updated
Register
Technical

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/thatcher

English Reference