plow
/plau/ Cách viết khác : (plow) /plau/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A farming implement: A "plow" is a tool with a heavy blade or blades, used to cut, lift, and turn over soil in preparation for planting crops.
- The act or process of plowing: "Plow" can refer to the action of using such a tool.
- A device resembling a plow: In other contexts, it can refer to a similar device, such as a snowplow for clearing snow.
Verb:
- To turn over soil with a plow: The primary meaning is to break and turn over earth using a plow, especially in farming.
- To move forcefully through something: To advance or proceed in a steady, forceful, and laborious way, similar to a plow cutting through soil.
- To deal with or discuss a subject: To treat or handle a topic in speech or writing, often in a thorough manner.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- The farmer attached the plow to the tractor. (The farmer connected the soil-turning tool to the tractor.)
- After the storm, the city sent out the snow plows. (After the storm, the city dispatched the vehicles for clearing snow.)
Verb:
- We need to plow the field before we can plant the seeds. (We need to turn the soil in the field before sowing.)
- The ship continued to plow through the rough waves. (The ship kept moving forcefully through the turbulent water.)
- The professor's lecture will plow the complex theories of quantum physics. (The professor's lecture will thoroughly address the complex theories.)
Advanced Usage
"to plow back": To reinvest profits into a business.
- The company decided to plow back its earnings into research and development. (The company chose to reinvest its profits.)
"to plow through something": To proceed with a difficult or tedious task with determination.
- She had to plow through hundreds of pages of legal documents. (She had to work her way determinedly through a large volume of documents.)
"to plow into something": To crash into something with great force.
- The truck lost control and plowed into the fence. (The truck crashed forcefully into the fence.)
Variants and Related Words
Plowshare (n): The cutting blade of a plow.
- The plowshare needed sharpening after a long season. (The cutting part of the plow required sharpening.)
Snowplow (n): A vehicle or device for clearing snow from roads.
- The snowplow cleared the highway overnight. (The snow-clearing vehicle made the highway passable.)
Synonyms
- Till (v): To prepare and cultivate land for crops.
- Furrow (v): To make a long, narrow trench in the ground, often with a plow.
- Tackle (v): To deal with a difficult task or problem (similar to the "deal with" meaning).
Related Phrasal Verbs
Plow ahead: To continue doing something in a determined way, especially despite difficulties.
- Despite the criticism, they decided to plow ahead with the project. (They chose to continue determinedly with the project.)
Plow under: To bury something by plowing; to suppress or overwhelm.
- The old crop residue was plowed under to enrich the soil. (The leftover plant matter was buried by plowing.)
Related Idioms
To put one's hand to the plow: To begin or commit to a task.
- Once you put your hand to the plow, you must see the job through. (Once you start a serious task, you should finish it.)
To plow a lonely furrow: To work alone on a project or hold an opinion without support from others.
- In the early days, she plowed a lonely furrow with her innovative research. (She worked in isolation on her novel research.)
To plow the sand(s): To engage in futile, useless labor.
- Trying to convince him is like plowing the sand. (Trying to persuade him is pointless work.)
Noun
- a farm tool having one or more heavy blades to break the soil and cut a furrow prior to sowing
Verb
- move in a way resembling that of a plow cutting into or going through the soil
- The ship plowed through the water
- act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
- This book deals with incest
- The course covered all of Western Civilization
- The new book treats the history of China
- to break and turn over earth especially with a plow
- Farmer Jones plowed his east field last week
- turn the earth in the Spring