furrow

views updated May 21 2018

fur·row / ˈfərō; ˈfə-rō/ • n. a long narrow trench made in the ground by a plow, esp. for planting seeds or for irrigation. ∎  a rut, groove, or trail in the ground or another surface: truck wheels had dug furrows in the sand. ∎  a line or wrinkle on a person's face: there were deep furrows in his brow.• v. [tr.] make a rut, groove, or trail in (the ground or the surface of something): gorges furrowing the deep-sea floor. ∎  (with reference to the forehead or face) mark or be marked with lines or wrinkles caused by frowning, anxiety, or concentration: [tr.] a look of concern furrowed his brow | [intr.] her brow furrowed | [as adj.] (furrowed) he stroked his furrowed brow. ∎  (with reference to the eyebrows) tighten or be tightened and lowered in anxiety, concentration, or disapproval, so wrinkling the forehead: [intr.] his brows furrowed in concentration | [tr.] she furrowed her brows, thinking hard. ∎  [usu. as adj.] (furrowed) use a plow to make a long narrow trench in (land or earth): furrowed fields.DERIVATIVES: fur·row·y adj.ORIGIN: Old English furh, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch voor and German Furche, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin porca ‘ridge between furrows.’

furrow

views updated May 21 2018

furrow OE. furh = OFris. furch, MLG., MDu. vore (Du. voor), OHG. furuh (G. furche), ON. for trench, drain. f. Gmc. base *furχ-, rel. to L. porca ridge between furrows, W. rhych furrow.

Furrow

views updated May 11 2018

Furrow

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