Word
wallow
Phoneticswal·low, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈwɑɫoʊ/
UK/wˈɒləʊ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a place where animals like pigs or cows lie in mud to cool down and keep their skin healthy. It can also mean a deep pool of water or a thick layer of mud.
n. a shallow depression or pool of mud or water in which animals, particularly swine, lie to cool themselves and protect their skin from parasites. Often used in agricultural or rural contexts.
Examples
“The pigs spent the whole afternoon in the wallow.”
“After the heavy rain, the farmer noticed a deep wallow had formed in the corner of the pasture.”
“The cattle were reluctant to leave the wallow, having spent several hours cooling their hides in the thick, damp earth after the midday sun reached its peak.”
Examples
simple
“The pigs spent the whole afternoon in the wallow.”
contextual
“After the heavy rain, the farmer noticed a deep wallow had formed in the corner of the pasture.”
complex
“The cattle were reluctant to leave the wallow, having spent several hours cooling their hides in the thick, damp earth after the midday sun reached its peak.”
Real-World Examples
“Nevertheless, the watering hole would have been a source of drinking water for local animals, as well as a place to wallow or bathe.” “The haunting earworm of the piano figure, the 60s soul mood, the ache in Ocean’s voice as he sings “you showed me love”: Pink + White makes misery sound worth wallowing in.” Etymology
From Middle English walowen, walewen, walwen, welwen, from Old English wealwian (“to roll”), from Proto-West Germanic walwōn, variant of walwijan, from Proto-Germanic walwijaną (“to roll”), from Proto-Indo-European welw-, from Proto-Indo-European *welH- (“to turn, wind, roll”). Cognate with Latin volvō (“roll, tumble”, verb).
From Middle English walwen, from Old English wealwian (“to fade, wither”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps an alteration of Old English fealwian (“to grow pale, turn yellow, ripen, wither”). Alternatively, perhaps related to Middle English welken (“to fade, droop, wither”), modern English welk.
From Middle English walwe, walh, from Old English wealg, from Proto-West Germanic walg, from Proto-Germanic walgaz. Cognate with Dutch walg (“disgust”), dialectal Norwegian valg (“tasteless”). Doublet of waugh.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL 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: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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