/ ˈfæləʊ; NAmE -loʊ/ adjective
1.
( of farm land ) not used for growing crops, especially so that the quality of the land will improve :
Farmers are now paid to let their land lie fallow .
2.
( of a period of time ) when nothing is created or produced; not successful :
Contemporary dance is coming onto the arts scene again after a long fallow period.
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English fealgian to break up land for sowing , of Germanic origin; related to Low German falgen .