Definition

1. 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.

2. 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

1. a farm tool having one or more heavy blades to break the soil and cut a furrow prior to sowing

Verb

1. move in a way resembling that of a plow cutting into or going through the soil
   • The ship plowed through the water
2. 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
3. to break and turn over earth especially with a plow
   • Farmer Jones plowed his east field last week
   • turn the earth in the Spring