Definition

Noun: 1. The process of turning over the earth's surface with a plough: The agricultural activity of cutting, lifting, and inverting soil using a plough to prepare it for sowing seeds.

Examples of Usage

• The ploughing of the fields is usually done in early spring.
• Modern ploughing often uses large tractors.
• The farmer finished the ploughing before the rain started.

Advanced Usage

• "Under the plough": Describing land that is used for growing crops.
  • Much of the ancient forest was put under the plough.
• Metaphorical Use: Can describe making slow, steady, and forceful progress through something difficult.
  • He continued ploughing through the dense legal document. (Note: This uses the verb form 'ploughing'.)

Variants and Related Words

• Plough (verb, chiefly British English): The action of turning over soil with a plough. The equivalent in American English is plow.
  • They will plough the field tomorrow.
• Plough (noun, chiefly British English): The farming implement used for ploughing. The equivalent in American English is plow.
  • The horse pulled the plough.
• Ploughman (noun): A person who operates a plough.

Synonyms

• Tilling
• Cultivation (specifically the initial soil-turning stage)

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs - based on the verb 'plough')

• Plough back into: To reinvest money or profits into a business.
  • The company ploughed its profits back into research.
• Plough through: To deal with something with difficulty or to move through something with force.
  • She ploughed through the paperwork on her desk.
  • The ship ploughed through the heavy waves.

Related Idioms

• Plough a lonely furrow: To do something alone, especially when it is difficult or not supported by others.
  • On this issue, the senator is ploughing a lonely furrow.
• Put one's hand to the plough: To begin or undertake a serious task (from a biblical reference meaning to commit fully).
  • Having put his hand to the plough, he was determined to finish the project.

Noun

1. tilling the land with a plow
   • he hired someone to do the plowing for him