n.
Pronunciation: ' tro ̇ f, ' tro ̇ th, by bakers often ' tr ō
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural troughs \ ' tro ̇ fs, ' tro ̇ vz; ' tro ̇ ths, ' tro ̇ ( th )z; ' tr ō z \
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English trog; akin to Old High German trog trough, Old English tr ē ow tree, wood ― more at TREE
Date: before 12th century
1 a : a long shallow often V-shaped receptacle for the drinking water or feed of domestic animals b : any of various domestic or industrial containers
2 a : a conduit, drain, or channel for water especially : a gutter along the eaves of a building b : a long and narrow or shallow channel or depression (as between waves or hills) especially : a long but shallow depression in the bed of the sea ― compare TRENCH
3 : the minimum point of a complete cycle of a periodic function: as a : an elongated area of low barometric pressure b : the low point in a business cycle