trough

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A long, narrow container, open on top, for feeding or watering animals.

   • One of Harriet's chores was to slop the pigs' trough each morning and evening.
2. 2

   Any similarly shaped container.

   • Now, covered concrete troughs to house the cables are laid parallel with the railway lines, cheapening maintenance because of improved accessibility for inspection and repair.
   • It just clips on the front of the stage without any special trough, has no great power and occupies only one dimmer, […]
3. 3

   A short, narrow canal designed to hold water until it drains or evaporates.

   • There was a small trough that the sump pump emptied into; it was filled with mosquito larvae.
4. ›+ 8 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      An undivided metal urinal (plumbing fixture)

   2. 5

      A gutter under the eaves of a building

      A gutter under the eaves of a building; an eaves trough.

      • The troughs were filled with leaves and needed clearing.
   3. 6

      A channel for conveying water or other farm liquids (such as milk) from place to place by…

      A channel for conveying water or other farm liquids (such as milk) from place to place by gravity; any ‘U’ or ‘V’ cross-sectioned irrigation channel.

   4. 7

      A long, narrow depression between waves or ridges

      A long, narrow depression between waves or ridges; the low portion of a wave cycle.

      • The buoy bobbed between the crests and troughs of the waves moving across the bay.
      • The neurologist pointed to a troubling trough in the pattern of his brain-waves.
   5. 8

      A low turning point or a local minimum of a business cycle.

   6. 9

      A linear atmospheric depression associated with a weather front.

   7. 10

      To eat in a vulgar style, as if from a trough.

      • He troughed his way through three meat pies.
   8. 11

      Alternative letter-case form of trough.

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