plough
/plaʊ/ (bre, ipa) · [plˈaʊ] /plaʊ/ (ame, ipa)
plough — noun
- ploughsingular
- ploughsplural
1. a farm tool or machine that cuts into the ground and turns the earth over to get
a farm tool or machine that cuts into the ground and turns the earth over to get a field ready for planting.
The old plough left long lines across the wet spring field.
leave lines across a field
Two horses pulled the plough while Ahmed walked behind it.
pull a plough; walk behind it
The farmer checked the metal plough before the first day of planting.
A broken plough stood near the barn beside sacks of seed.
After the rain, mud clung to the plough in thick brown lumps.
- plow
American spelling of the same farm tool
- tiller
a modern machine for loosening soil, usually smaller and lighter
- cultivator
used for lighter soil work between growing plants, not the deep first cut
文法句型
pull a plough
horse-drawn plough
walk behind the plough
用法筆記
Usually names the soil-cutting tool pulled by animals or attached behind a tractor. American English normally spells this noun 'plow'.
常見錯誤
2. describing land that people use for growing crops, rather than keeping it only f
describing land that people use for growing crops, rather than keeping it only for animals to eat on.
Only half the valley is under the plough; sheep graze on the rest.
fixed phrase: be under the plough
By 1900, most of the flat land near town was under the plough.
The hill was never under the plough because the soil was too thin.
Maps show which fields are under the plough each spring.
Less land is under the plough after the farm sold its tractor.
- arable land
a more technical term for land suitable or used for crops
- cropland
a straightforward modern term for land where crops are grown
文法句型
be under the plough
put land under the plough
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the set phrase 'under the plough'. Distinguish from noun/1, which names the tool rather than the land.
常見錯誤
3. the British name for the Big Dipper, the seven-star shape that people look for i
the British name for the Big Dipper, the seven-star shape that people look for in the northern sky.
On clear winter nights, Grandpa pointed out the Plough above the trees.
proper name with the: the Plough
The children learned to find north by looking for the Plough.
From the dark beach, we could see the Plough over the sea.
A star chart showed the Plough near the top of the page.
During camp, Mia found the Plough first and shouted to her brother.
- Big Dipper
the more widely known international and North American name
- Charles's Wain
an older British name for the same group of stars
文法句型
the Plough
see the Plough
point out the Plough
用法筆記
Mostly British. Used as a name, usually with 'the'; many learners outside Britain know the same star pattern as the Big Dipper.
常見錯誤
plough — verb
- ploughpresent simple I / you / we / they
- ploughs3rd person singular
- ploughing-ing form
- ploughedpast simple
1. to cut into a field and turn the soil over by pulling or driving a plough throug
to cut into a field and turn the soil over by pulling or driving a plough through it.
Every autumn, the family ploughs the field before planting wheat.
plough + field
A small tractor ploughed the wet ground after two days of rain.
plough + ground
Farmers ploughed from sunrise until the church bell rang at noon.
The men ploughed around the apple trees and left the roots untouched.
By March, Rosa had ploughed every corner of the narrow field.
- leave fallow
to leave land unused for a season instead of working it
文法句型
plough a field
plough the land
plough all morning
用法筆記
Object is usually land, a field, or soil; the verb can also stand alone when the place is already understood. American English normally writes this verb as 'plow'.