Definition

1. Verb:

   • To cut down (grass, grain, etc.) with a blade or machine: The primary meaning of "mow" is to cut down vegetation, typically using a scythe, sickle, or lawnmower.
   • To make a grimacing facial expression, especially by thrusting out the lower lip; to pout: This is an archaic or literary usage, often seen in the phrase "mop and mow."

2. Noun:

   • A stack of hay, grain, or other cut crop stored in a barn: This refers to the stored mass itself.
   • The part of a barn where hay or straw is stored; a hayloft: This refers to the storage area.

Usage Examples

• Verb (to cut):
  • He must mow the lawn every Saturday.
  • Farmers used to mow their fields with scythes.
• Verb (to pout - archaic):
  • The child began to mow and cry when his toy was taken away.
• Noun (haystack/loft):
  • The hay was piled high in the mow.
  • They climbed into the mow to play.

Advanced Usage

• "to mow down":
  • To cut down (plants) while moving forward: The combine harvester mowed down the wheat.
  • To kill or destroy people indiscriminately or in great numbers: The machine gun fire mowed down the advancing troops.
• "mop and mow": An archaic phrase meaning to make grimaces or faces.
  • The actor would mop and mow in a most comical fashion.

Variants and Related Words

• Mower (n): A person or machine that mows (e.g., a lawnmower).
• Mown (adj): The past participle of "mow," used as an adjective (e.g., ).

Synonyms

• For "to cut": Cut down, scythe, reap, trim.
• For "to pout": Grimace, pout, moue (literary).
• For "haystack": Haycock, rick, stack.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Mow down: As defined in "Advanced Usage."
• Mow off: An older form meaning to cut off.
  • He mowed off the heads of the flowers.

Related Idioms

• Make hay while the sun shines: This proverb about taking advantage of opportunities is conceptually related to the agricultural activity of mowing hay.

Noun

1. a loft in a barn where hay is stored

Verb

1. make a sad face and thrust out one's lower lip
   • mop and mow
   • The girl pouted
2. cut with a blade or mower
   • mow the grass