plow: Meaning and Definition of

plow

Pronunciation: (plou), [key]
— n.
  1. an agricultural implement used for cutting, lifting, turning over, and partly pulverizing soil.
  2. any of various implements resembling or suggesting this, as a kind of plane for cutting grooves or a contrivance for clearing away snow from a road or track.
  3. (formerly) an instrument for cutting the groove in the foot of type.
  4. a device for trimming the edges of the leaves by hand.
  5. (cap.)
    1. the constellation Ursa Major.
    2. the Big Dipper.
—v.t.
  1. to turn up (soil) with a plow.
  2. to make (a furrow) with a plow.
  3. to tear up, cut into, or make a furrow, groove, etc. in (a surface) with or as if with a plow (often fol. by up): The tractor plowed up an acre of trees.
  4. to clear by the use of a plow, esp. a snowplow (sometimes fol. by out): The city's work crews were busily plowing the streets after the blizzard.
  5. to invest, as capital (often fol. by into): to plow several hundred million into developing new oil fields.
  6. to reinvest or reutilize (usually fol. by back): to plow profits back into new plants and equipment.
  7. (of a ship, boat, animal, etc.) beavers plowing the pond.
    1. to cleave the surface of (the water):beavers plowing the pond.
    2. to make (a way) or follow (a course) in this manner:The yacht plowed an easterly course through the choppy Atlantic.
  8. . to have sexual intercourse with.
—v.i.
  1. to till the soil or work with a plow.
  2. to take plowing in a specified way: land that plows easily.
  3. to move forcefully through something in the manner of a plow (often fol. by through, into, along, etc.): The cop plowed through the crowd, chasing after the thief. The car plowed into our house.
  4. to proceed in a slow, laborious, and steady manner (often fol. by through): The researcher plowed through a pile of reports.
  5. to move through water by cleaving the surface: a ship plowing through a turbulent sea.
  6. Many mom-and-pop groceries have been plowed under by the big chain stores.
    1. to bury under soil by plowing.
    2. to cause to disappear; force out of existence; overwhelm:Many mom-and-pop groceries have been plowed under by the big chain stores.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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