trough

Pluraltroughs

Formstroughs, troughing, troughed

1. 1
   for animalsnouncountable

   A long, narrow container, open at the top, that holds food or water for animals.

   The farmer filled the trough with fresh water for the cows.

   The pigs pushed each other to get to their food trough.

   Note
2. 2
   long hollownouncountable

   A long, narrow dip between waves or ridges, or the low part of any wave.

   The small boat dropped into the trough between two big waves.

   The trail follows a narrow trough between two rocky ridges.

   Similarhollow

   Oppositecrest, peak

   Note
3. 3
   economic lownouncountable

   A low point in the ups and downs of business, where things stop getting worse.

   Many shops closed before the economy reached its trough.

   Sales were weakest at the trough, but they grew again the next year.

   Similarlow, bottom

   Oppositepeak

   Note
4. 4
   long containernouncountable

   Any long, narrow container that is open at the top.

   She planted herbs in a stone trough by the back door.

   The builders mixed the plaster in a big plastic trough.

   Note
5. 5
   low pressurenouncountable

   A long band of low air pressure that comes with a weather front.

   A trough moving in from the west will bring rain tonight.

   The weather map showed a trough stretching across three states.

   Oppositeridge

   Note
6. 6
   eat greedilyverbintransitive

   To eat in a rude, messy way, like an animal eating from a trough.

   My brother can trough his way through a whole bag of chips.

   The kids were troughing at the snack table like hungry pigs.

   Similargobble, wolf, gorge

7. 7
   urinalnouncolloquialcountable

   A metal urinal made in one piece, with no dividers between users.

   The old bus station only had a trough in the men's room.

   There was a long line for the trough at halftime.

   Similarurinal

8. 8
   roof gutternounCanadacountable

   A gutter that runs along a building just under the edge of the roof.

   Dad climbed the ladder to scoop the wet leaves out of the troughs.

   Rain spilled over the trough at the corner of the roof.

   Similargutter

   Note
9. 9
   shallow channelnouncountable

   A short, narrow channel that holds water until it drains away or dries up.

   We dug a small trough at the bottom of the yard to hold rainwater until it soaks in.

   The water in the trough by the basement wall dried up after a week of sun.

   Similarditch, channel

10. 10
    farm channelnounAustraliaNew Zealandcountable

    A farm channel that carries water, milk or other liquids downhill, or any U- or V-shaped channel for watering fields.

    Water from the tank ran down the trough to the far paddock.

    In the dairy, warm milk flowed along a steel trough into the vat.

    Similarchannel, flume, ditch

    Note
11. 11
    laundry tubnounAustraliaNew Zealandcountable

    A rectangular tub for washing or rinsing clothes.

    Mum filled the trough with cold water to rinse the school shirts.

    Leave your muddy footy socks in the trough to soak.

    Similartub, sink

    Note

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