plough
/plau/ Cách viết khác : (plow) /plau/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A farming implement: A plough is a tool used in agriculture. It has one or more heavy blades designed to cut into, break up, and turn over soil, especially to prepare it for planting seeds.
- A constellation: (Capitalized as 'the Plough') A group of seven bright stars in the constellation Ursa Major, also known as the Big Dipper in North America.
Verb:
- To turn over soil: To break and turn over earth using a plough.
- To move forward forcefully and steadily: To advance in a manner that resembles a plough cutting through soil, often with effort or by pushing aside obstacles.
- To proceed laboriously: To advance or work through something with steady, difficult effort.
Usage and Examples
Noun:
- The farmer attached the plough to the tractor. (The farming tool was connected to the vehicle.)
- We looked up at the night sky and found the Plough. (We identified the group of stars.)
Verb:
- They need to plough the field before sowing the wheat. (They need to turn the soil before planting.)
- The ship began to plough through the heavy waves. (The ship moved forward, pushing through the large waves.)
- He had to plough through hundreds of pages of legal documents. (He had to work his way through the documents with great effort.)
Advanced Usage and Idioms
- To plough a lonely/lone furrow: To work alone on a project or pursue a course of action without support from others.
- While others pursued popular research, she ploughed a lonely furrow in her niche field.
- To plough something back (into something): To reinvest money, especially profits, into the business from which it came to aid its development.
- The company ploughed its profits back into research and development.
- To put one's hand to the plough: To begin or commit to a significant and demanding task. (Often used in the negative: "to look back after putting one's hand to the plough" means to give up after starting.)
- It's a tough project, but now that we've put our hand to the plough, we must finish it.
Variants and Related Words
- Plow: The standard spelling and more common form in American English. Both 'plough' (common in British English) and 'plow' are correct for the verb and noun related to farming.
- Ploughing/Plowing (n): The action or process of using a plough.
- Spring ploughing is essential for a good harvest.
- Ploughman/Plowman (n): A person who operates a plough.
- The ploughman guided the horses across the field.
Synonyms
- Till (verb): To prepare and cultivate land for crops.
- Furrow (verb): To make a long, narrow trench in the ground, especially with a plough.
- Trench (verb): To dig a long, deep ditch.
Phrasal Verbs
- Plough ahead (with something): To continue determinedly with a course of action despite difficulties or opposition.
- Despite the criticism, the government decided to plough ahead with the new policy.
- Plough into something/someone: To crash into something with force, often because you are moving too fast or not paying attention.
- The truck skidded and ploughed into the fence.
- Plough through something: To make slow, difficult progress through something, such as work, a book, or a substance.
- We ploughed through the deep snow to reach the cabin.
Related Idioms
- To plough the sand(s): To engage in futile labor; to waste one's effort on a pointless task.
- Trying to convince him is like ploughing the sand; he never listens.
Noun
- a farm tool having one or more heavy blades to break the soil and cut a furrow prior to sowing
- a group of seven bright stars in the constellation Ursa Major
Verb
- to break and turn over earth especially with a plow
- Farmer Jones plowed his east field last week
- turn the earth in the Spring
- move in a way resembling that of a plow cutting into or going through the soil
- The ship plowed through the water