ploughed


Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms, Encyclopedia.
Related to ploughed: plowers

plow

also plough  (plou)
n.
1. A farm implement consisting of a strong blade at the end of a beam, usually hitched to a draft team or motor vehicle and used for breaking up soil and cutting furrows in preparation for sowing.
2. An implement or machine designed to move earth, snow, or other material by means of a strong blade.
3. Plow See Big Dipper.
v. plowed, plow·ing, plows also ploughed or plough·ing or ploughs
v.tr.
1.
a. To break and turn over (earth) with a plow.
b. To form (a furrow, for example) with a plow.
c. To form furrows in with a plow: plow a field.
d. To form wrinkles or creases in: His forehead was plowed with lines of stress.
2.
a. To move or clear (snow, for example) by means of a plow.
b. To clear (an area) of snow or other material by means of a plow.
3. To make or form with driving force: I plowed my way through the crowd.
4. To progress through (water): plow the high seas.
5. Vulgar Slang To have intercourse with (another). Used of a man.
v.intr.
1. To break and turn up earth with a plow.
2. To move or clear material such as snow with a plow.
3. To admit of plowing: Rocky earth plows poorly.
4. To move or progress with driving force: The ball carrier plowed through the defensive line.
5. To proceed laboriously; plod: plowed through the backlog of work.
Phrasal Verbs:
plow back
To reinvest (earnings or profits) in one's business.
plow in
To block or isolate by plowing snow across ways of egress.
plow into Informal
1. To strike with force: The van plowed into the hydrant.
2. To begin to eat (food) with eagerness.
plow under
1. To turn or force (crops or manure, for example) into the soil with a plow.
2. To overwhelm, as with burdens: was plowed under with work.

[Middle English plough, plouw, from Old English plōh, plōg, plow, plowland.]

plow′a·ble adj.
plow′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Adj.1.ploughed - (of farmland) broken and turned over with a plow; "plowed fields"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
References in classic literature ?
The clocks are on the stroke of three, and the furrow ploughed among the populace is turning round, to come on into the place of execution, and end.
Levin got on his horse and rode towards the field where was last year's clover, and the one which was ploughed ready for the spring corn.
He has ploughed 10 times at the worlds, winning six titles and a string of runner-up and third-place prizes.
Meanwhile, Ms Moruisi added that in good years they ploughed up to 20 000 hectares, but this year, due to late rainfall, the hectorage was estimated to 15 000.