trough /trɒf $ trɒːf/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: trog ]
1 . CONTAINER a long narrow open container that holds water or food for animals:
a horse trough
2 . LOW POINT a short period of low activity, low prices etc OPP peak
trough of
The graph showed peaks and troughs of activity.
3 . WAVES the hollow area between two waves
4 . WEATHER technical a long area of fairly low pressure between two areas of high pressure
5 . have your nose/snout in the trough British English if people have their noses in the trough, they are involved in something which they hope will get them a lot of money or political power – used to show disapproval