Reading Theme:
Plough: Definition, Usage, and Common Examples (3 meaning)
Meaning 1：farm tool for soil (plough)
plough
/plaʊ/
n.
A big farm tool pulled by a tractor or animals. It has sharp blades that dig into and turn over the soil.
farm tool for soil
➕
/fɑːrm tuːl fɔːr sɔɪl/
n.
A large agricultural implement with one or more blades, used to cut and turn over soil in preparation for sowing.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Old English 'plōh', meaning a measure of land, later the tool to till it.
💡 Mnemonic
Think: 'Plough through rough ground'. The 'ough' sounds like 'ow' as in 'ouch', like the hard work of ploughing.
📖 Example
My grandfather still keeps the old horse-drawn plough in his barn as a reminder of the past.
My grandfather still keeps the old horse-drawn plough in his barn as a reminder of the past.
🔗 Collocations
heavy plough – a large, robust plough for tough soil
horse-drawn plough – a plough traditionally pulled by horses
to put one's hand to the plough – to begin a serious task (idiomatic)
🔄 Synonyms
🌱 Derivatives
ploughman (n.) – A man who operates a plough; a farm laborer.
ploughshare (n.) – The cutting blade of a plough.
📖 Cultural Story
The word originates from a prehistoric Germanic root. The 'plough' was fundamental to the Agricultural Revolution, shaping European societies. Its variant spelling 'plow' is common in American English.
Meaning 2：turn over soil (plough)
plough
/plaʊ/
n.
To use a plough to turn over the soil in a field so it is ready for planting seeds.
turn over soil
➕
/tɜːrn ˈoʊvər sɔɪl/
n.
To break and turn over soil using a plough, preparing the land for planting crops.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
It took them two full days to plough the entire field behind their house.
It took them two full days to plough the entire field behind their house.
🔗 Collocations
to plough a field – to prepare a field for planting by ploughing
to plough the land – to cultivate land using a plough
ploughing season – the time of year when fields are ploughed
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
harvest (v.) – To gather a crop, which is the final action after planting in cultivated soil.
🌱 Derivatives
ploughed (adj.) – Describing land that has been turned over by a plough.
Meaning 3：force one's way through (plough)
plough
/plaʊ/
n.
To move forward or finish something difficult with slow, steady effort, like a plough moving through soil.
force one's way through
➕
/fɔːrs wʌnz weɪ θruː/
n.
To move forward with determined effort through something that offers resistance, similar to a plough cutting through soil.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
After the heavy snow, we had to plough through deep drifts just to get to the main road.
After the heavy snow, we had to plough through deep drifts just to get to the main road.
🔗 Collocations
plough through a book – to read a long or difficult book with steady effort
plough through paperwork – to deal with a large amount of documents diligently
plough ahead – to continue determinedly despite difficulties
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
glide (v.) – To move smoothly and effortlessly.
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