Definition

1. Noun:

   • A horned animal that has lost its horns: A "pollard" is an animal, typically a farm animal like a cow, sheep, or goat, whose horns have been removed or have naturally shed.
   • A tree with its top branches cut back: A "pollard" is a tree whose main limbs have been pruned back to the trunk to encourage a dense growth of new shoots and foliage.

2. Verb:

   • To cut back the top branches of a tree: To "pollard" means to prune a tree by cutting off its upper branches, promoting a bushy, rounded head of foliage.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Animal):
  • The farmer kept several pollards in the lower field. (The farmer kept several hornless animals in the lower field.)
• Noun (Tree):
  • The old willows along the canal are pollards. (The old willows along the canal are trees with their tops cut back.)
• Verb:
  • The gardeners will pollard the linden trees this winter. (The gardeners will cut back the tops of the linden trees this winter.)

Advanced Usage

• "Pollarding" as a horticultural practice: The technique of pollarding is often used in urban areas to control the size of street trees and to produce a regular supply of small-diameter wood.
  • Pollarding is a traditional method of tree management.

Variants and Related Words

• Pollarding (n): The action or practice of cutting trees back in this way.
  • Pollarding must be done correctly to avoid harming the tree.

Synonyms

• Noun (Animal): Dehorned animal.
• Noun (Tree): Lopped tree.
• Verb: Top, prune, lop.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

(This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs.)

Related Idioms

(This word is not commonly used in idioms.)

Noun

1. a usually horned animal that has either shed its horns or had them removed
2. a tree with limbs cut back to promote a more bushy growth of foliage

Verb

1. convert into a pollard
   • pollard trees