Trough Meaning
/tɹɒf/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA long, narrow container, open on top, for feeding or watering animals.
nounAny similarly shaped container.
Sentence Examples
He sits upright, not crouched over his plate like an animal at a feeding trough.
He put the clothes in the trough.
He slipped from the roof directly into the trough and drowned.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The farmer filled the wooden ____ with water for the thirsty cows.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The farmer filled the wooden ____ with fresh water for the cows to drink during the hot summer afternoon today.
Word Origin & History
PIE word *dóru From Middle English trogh, from Old English troh, trog (“a trough, tub, basin, vessel for containing liquids or other materials”), from Proto-West Germanic *trog, from Proto-Germanic *trugą, *trugaz, from Proto-Indo-European *drukós, enlargement of *dóru (“tree”). See also West Frisian trôch, Dutch trog, German Trog, Danish trug, Swedish tråg; also Middle Irish drochta (“wooden basin”), Old Armenian տարգալ (targal, “ladle, spoon”). More at tree.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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."
— 1961 November, “Talking of Trains: The North Eastern's new rail-mounted piling unit”, in Trains Illustrated, page 646:
"It just clips on the front of the stage without any special trough, has no great power and occupies only one dimmer, […]"
— 1976, Frederick Bentham, The art of stage lighting, page 233:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The farmer filled the wooden ____ with water for the thirsty cows.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The farmer filled the wooden ____ with fresh water for the cows to drink during the hot summer afternoon today.