trough
/trɒf/ (bre, ipa) · /trɔːf/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtrȯf ˈtrȯth by bakers often ˈtrō/ (ame, mw) · /trɑːf/ (ame, ipa)
trough — noun
1. an open, long container that holds food or water for farm animals such as pigs,
an open, long container that holds food or water for farm animals such as pigs, horses, or cows.
Ari filled the trough with fresh hay for the hungry goats.
collocation: fill the trough
The farmer scrubbed the water trough and poured clean water into it.
collocation: water trough
Pigs gathered noisily around the feeding trough, pushing each other aside.
A long wooden trough in the barn held oats for the horses every morning.
文法句型
a/the + trough
常見錯誤
2. the lowest point in a repeated pattern of rises and falls, especially when talki
the lowest point in a repeated pattern of rises and falls, especially when talking about commerce and finance.
The housing market reached its trough in 2023 before prices began to climb again.
collocation: reach a trough
Rania noted that the economy was at the trough of the business cycle and expected growth soon.
collocation: trough of the business cycle
After several months of falling sales, the company finally hit a trough and started recovering.
Between the peak and the trough, the stock lost nearly half its value.
- peak
the highest point in the cycle
文法句型
a/the + trough
reach a trough
trough of the cycle
用法筆記
Frequently contrasted with 'peak': the peak is the highest point, and the trough is the lowest point in a cycle.
3. an extended region in the atmosphere where air pressure is lower than the air ar
an extended region in the atmosphere where air pressure is lower than the air around it, typically bringing cloud cover and rain.
A trough of low pressure moved across the island, bringing heavy rain all day.
collocation: trough of low pressure
Élise checked the weather map and saw a trough forming off the coast.
The meteorologist warned that a deep trough would cause strong winds and thunderstorms.
Between two high-pressure ridges, the trough created cloudy skies over the whole region.
- low-pressure system
a broader term that includes troughs and more circular low-pressure areas like cyclones
- ridge
an elongated area of high pressure, the opposite of a trough
文法句型
a + trough + of + [low pressure]
用法筆記
In weather reports, 'trough' is contrasted with 'ridge' (an area of high pressure). Commonly used with 'of low pressure'.
4. a low and narrow stretch of land or water between two higher areas, such as the
a low and narrow stretch of land or water between two higher areas, such as the space between two ocean waves or two hills.
The boat dropped into a deep trough between two huge waves.
collocation: trough between waves
Camila walked through the grassy trough that lay between the two low hills.
The valley formed a natural trough where water collected after heavy rain.
From the cliff, Tariro watched each wave trough followed by a new crest.
- depression
a general term for any sunken area; less specific than 'trough'
- hollow
a small low area in the ground, often rounder and less elongated
文法句型
a/the + trough
trough between + [waves/hills]
用法筆記
Used for both ocean waves and land features. With waves, the opposite is 'crest'; with hills, the opposite may be 'ridge' or 'hilltop'.
trough — verb
1. to eat a large amount of food very fast, in a way that looks hungry and unrestra
to eat a large amount of food very fast, in a way that looks hungry and unrestrained.
After the hike, Megan troughed a whole pizza in about five minutes.
transitive: trough + food
The kids came home from camp and troughed on biscuits and cake until dinner.
intransitive: trough on + food
Lauren watched her brother trough through an entire bag of chips before the movie started.
Beatrix troughed down her breakfast and ran out the door to catch the bus.
- nibble
to eat in very small amounts, slowly and gently
文法句型
trough + [food]
trough on + [food]
trough (no object)
用法筆記
Frequently used in British English in informal contexts. Can be transitive (trough + food) or intransitive (trough on/through food). Considered a slang term rather than standard written English.
常見錯誤
2. to fall to a low level or price and then begin to increase again, used especiall
to fall to a low level or price and then begin to increase again, used especially of markets or economic indicators.
Oil prices troughed at $45 a barrel before recovering later that year.
pattern: trough at + price level
The stock market troughed in March and then started a steady climb upward.
pattern: trough in + month/period
Analysts expect the currency to trough soon against the dollar and then strengthen.
Once unemployment figures trough, the government usually announces new stimulus plans.
- bottom out
much more common and widely understood; 'prices bottomed out' is standard English
- hit a low
less technical alternative used in general contexts
- peak
to reach the highest point before falling
文法句型
[price/market] + troughs
[price/market] + troughs at + [level]
用法筆記
This is a specialised financial verb, rarely used outside business news. More common than the noun sense in economics reporting to describe the action of bottoming out.