trowel
/'trauəl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A small hand tool with a handle and a flat, pointed, or curved metal blade: A trowel is primarily used for applying, spreading, smoothing, or scooping materials like plaster, mortar, cement, or soil.
Verb:
- To apply, spread, or dig using a trowel: This action involves using the tool for tasks in gardening, masonry, or plastering.
Examples of Usage
Noun:
- The mason used a trowel to spread the mortar evenly between the bricks.
- She bought a new garden trowel for planting seedlings.
Verb:
- He carefully troweled the concrete to create a smooth surface.
- You need to trowel the soil gently around the roots of the plant.
Advanced Usage
- "To lay/pile it on with a trowel" (idiom): To exaggerate praise, flattery, or emotion in an excessive or obvious manner.
- His introduction laid the compliments on with a trowel; it was embarrassingly over-the-top.
Variants and Related Words
- Troweling (n/gerund): The action or process of using a trowel.
- Proper troweling is essential for a good finish on the plaster.
- Troweled (adj): Describing a surface finished with a trowel.
- The troweled concrete had a very fine texture.
Synonyms
- Noun: Spatula, float (for specific types of masonry trowels), hand spade (for gardening).
- Verb: Spread, smooth, apply.
Related Phrases
- Pointing trowel (n): A small trowel with a pointed blade, used for detailed masonry work.
- Garden trowel (n): A trowel with a curved or pointed blade, designed for digging small holes and planting.
- Finishing trowel (n): A trowel with a flat, rectangular blade used for creating a smooth final surface on plaster or concrete.
Related Idioms
- "To lay it on with a trowel": As defined in Advanced Usage, this idiom is the primary figurative use of the word.
Noun
- a small hand tool with a handle and flat metal blade; used for scooping or spreading plaster or similar materials
Verb
- use a trowel on; for light garden work or plaster work