furrow
C1Formal/Literary, Agricultural/Technical
Definition
Meaning
A long, narrow trench or groove in the ground, especially one made by a plough for planting seeds.
A deep wrinkle or line, especially on the forehead, suggesting concentration, worry, or age; any similar long, narrow indentation or channel.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a concrete noun (a physical groove). Its use as a verb (to make furrows) is common, especially in farming contexts. The metaphorical extension to wrinkles (especially on the brow) and to the idea of creating a path or channel (e.g., 'a ship furrowing the sea') is established but more literary.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Both use 'furrowed brow' idiom. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Slightly more agricultural/literal in general use in both regions. The metaphorical use is equally literary.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in everyday conversation, but standard in agricultural, literary, and specific technical (e.g., botany, neurology) contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb] a furrow (in something)[Verb] with furrowsfurrow (one's) browfurrows [Verb] across/through/intoVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “furrow one's brow”
- “plough a lonely furrow (to work alone on a difficult task)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly metaphorical: 'The company continued to plough its own furrow despite market trends.'
Academic
Used in geography (soil science), agriculture, biology (e.g., neural furrows), and literary analysis.
Everyday
Most common in the idiom 'furrowed brow' to show worry or thought. Literal farming use is specialist.
Technical
Standard in agriculture (ploughing), horticulture, and certain sciences (e.g., 'gingival furrow' in dentistry).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The farmer furrowed the field ready for barley.
- Her brow furrowed in puzzlement at the cryptic clue.
American English
- The tractor furrowed the dry earth in straight lines.
- His forehead furrowed with concern as he read the report.
adverb
British English
- (Extremely rare; not standard. Use 'in furrows'.) The soil lay furrowed. (This is a verb complement, not a true adverb.)
American English
- (Extremely rare; not standard.)
adjective
British English
- The furrowed earth was dark and damp. (attributive use of past participle)
- He had a deeply furrowed complexion from years outdoors.
American English
- They sowed the seeds in the furrowed ground.
- The furrowed landscape stretched for miles after the ploughing.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The old man had deep furrows on his forehead.
- The plough made straight furrows in the field.
- She furrowed her brow, trying to solve the complex equation.
- Over time, anxiety had furrowed deep lines into his face.
- The glacier had furrowed spectacular channels through the mountain valley.
- He preferred to plough his own furrow rather than follow the conventional career path.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a FURRY animal digging a ROW in the ground. FUR-ROW.
Conceptual Metaphor
THINKING/WORRY IS PLOUGHING (furrowing one's brow); A PATH/TRACK IS A FURROW (to follow in the same furrow).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'борозда' (корректно) и 'морщина' (для лба). 'Furrow' для лица — именно глубокая складка/морщина, обычно от эмоции, а не мелкая 'wrinkle'.
- В прямом сельскохозяйственном смысле соответствует 'борозда'. В значении 'колея' (на дороге) чаще 'rut'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'furoow' or 'furrough'.
- Using 'furrow' for any wrinkle (it implies depth and length).
- Confusing verb form: 'He furrowed *with* concentration' (incorrect) vs. 'His brow furrowed *with* concentration' (correct).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'furrow' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its origin and core meaning are agricultural, it is commonly used metaphorically for deep wrinkles (especially on the forehead) and in various technical fields (geology, biology) to describe grooves.
A 'furrow' is a specific type of wrinkle: it implies greater depth, length, and often a linear quality. 'Wrinkle' is a more general term for a small fold or crease (e.g., in fabric or skin).
Yes, very commonly. It means 'to make a furrow or furrows in'. The most frequent use is 'to furrow one's brow' (to wrinkle the forehead in thought or worry).
It means to work diligently and independently on a task or project, often in isolation or without support from others. It carries a sense of solitary, determined effort.