— plowable , adj. — plowability , n. — plower , n.
/plow/ , 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. Type Founding. (formerly) an instrument for cutting the groove in the foot of type.
4. Bookbinding. a device for trimming the edges of the leaves by hand.
5. ( cap. ) Astron.
a. the constellation Ursa Major.
b. the Big Dipper.
v.t.
6. to turn up (soil) with a plow.
7. to make (a furrow) with a plow.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. to invest, as capital (often fol. by into ): to plow several hundred million into developing new oil fields.
11. to reinvest or reutilize (usually fol. by back ): to plow profits back into new plants and equipment.
12. (of a ship, boat, animal, etc.)
a. to cleave the surface of (the water): beavers plowing the pond.
b. to make (a way) or follow (a course) in this manner: The yacht plowed an easterly course through the choppy Atlantic.
13. Slang ( vulgar ). to have sexual intercourse with.
v.i.
14. to till the soil or work with a plow.
15. to take plowing in a specified way: land that plows easily.
16. 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.
17. to proceed in a slow, laborious, and steady manner (often fol. by through ): The researcher plowed through a pile of reports.
18. to move through water by cleaving the surface: a ship plowing through a turbulent sea.
19. plow under ,
a. to bury under soil by plowing.
b. to cause to disappear; force out of existence; overwhelm: Many mom-and-pop groceries have been plowed under by the big chain stores.
Also, esp. Brit., plough .
[ bef. 1100; ME plouh, plugh ( e ), plough ( e ), OE ploh; c. G Pflug plow ]