sown
/sau/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- (Of land or a field) having had seeds planted in it; seeded. This is the primary meaning, describing land that has been prepared for growing crops by planting seeds.
- Figuratively, (of an idea, feeling, etc.) introduced or established. Used to describe something abstract that has been introduced and is expected to develop or grow.
Usage and Examples
- Adjective:
- The farmer walked across the sown field, hopeful for a good harvest. (Describes a field where seeds have been planted.)
- After the meeting, the seeds of doubt were sown in her mind. (Figurative use, meaning feelings of doubt were introduced.)
Advanced Usage
- "Newly sown": Refers to land that has very recently been seeded.
- Birds were pecking at the newly sown lawn.
- "Sown with [crop/idea]": Specifies what has been planted or introduced.
- The propaganda had sown the population with distrust.
- The acre was sown with winter wheat.
Variants and Related Words
- Sow (verb): The base verb from which 'sown' is derived as a past participle. It means to plant seeds in the ground, or to introduce an idea or feeling.
- You sow in the spring and reap in the autumn.
- He tried to sow discord among the team members.
- Sower (noun): A person who sows seeds.
- Seeded (adjective): A close synonym, especially for the literal meaning related to land.
Synonyms
- Planted: (Literal) Placed seeds or young plants in the ground to grow.
- Seeded: (Literal) Sown with seed.
- Implanted: (Figurative) Fixed an idea or feeling firmly in someone's mind.
- Instilled: (Figurative) Gradually but firmly established an idea or habit.
Phrasal Verbs / Related Verb Constructions
- To sow (seeds): The fundamental action.
- It's time to sow the carrot seeds.
- To sow something in/on something: To plant seeds in a particular place.
- They sowed clover in the pasture.
- To sow something among/between people: To spread an abstract thing among a group.
- The rumor was deliberately sown among the staff.
Related Idioms
- As you sow, so shall you reap (or You reap what you sow): Your actions, good or bad, will eventually have corresponding consequences for you. This idiom directly uses the verb 'sow'.
- He was unkind to everyone and now has no friends. You reap what you sow.
- To sow the seeds of (something): To do something that will cause a particular situation, often a negative one, to develop in the future.
- His harsh criticism sowed the seeds of rebellion in the department.
Adjective
- sprinkled with seed
- a seeded lawn