gang plow: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2 (Specialized/Technical Vocabulary)Technical/Agricultural, Historical
Quick answer
What does “gang plow” mean?
A large agricultural implement consisting of multiple plowshares mounted on a single frame, designed to till several parallel furrows simultaneously.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large agricultural implement consisting of multiple plowshares mounted on a single frame, designed to till several parallel furrows simultaneously.
Historically, a heavy-duty plow pulled by multiple draft animals or a tractor, used for large-scale field preparation. In rare, extended metaphorical use, it can describe any system or method that works on multiple fronts or tasks at once.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'plough' is the standard spelling versus American 'plow'. The implement was historically used in large-scale farming in both regions, but the term is more commonly found in American historical texts describing prairie and plains farming.
Connotations
Evokes images of 19th and early 20th-century large-scale farming, pioneer expansion, and mechanization of agriculture. It has a nostalgic or historical connotation.
Frequency
Very low frequency in contemporary general language in both varieties. Higher relative frequency in American English historical/agricultural texts.
Grammar
How to Use “gang plow” in a Sentence
[Subject] + used/operated/pulled + a gang plow + [to-infinitive (e.g., to break the prairie)]The + [Adjective] + gang plow + [Verb (e.g., cut/turned)] + [Object]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gang plow” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Not standard as a verb]
American English
- [Not standard as a verb]
adverb
British English
- [Not standard as an adverb]
American English
- [Not standard as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- [Not standard as an adjective]
American English
- [Not standard as an adjective]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, agricultural engineering, or rural studies texts to describe specific farming technology and its socio-economic impact.
Everyday
Extremely rare; only used when discussing historical farming with specific knowledge.
Technical
Precise term in agricultural history and machinery documentation for a specific type of primary tillage implement.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gang plow”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gang plow”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gang plow”
- Misspelling as 'gang plow' without the space (should be two words or hyphenated: 'gang-plow').
- Confusing it with a single-blade plow.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to gang plow a field' is non-standard; 'to plow a field with a gang plow' is correct).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is typically written as two words ('gang plow') or sometimes hyphenated ('gang-plow'), especially in historical texts.
A regular or 'walking' plow has a single share that cuts one furrow. A gang plow has multiple shares (often 2 to 14) mounted on one frame, allowing it to cut several parallel furrows in one pass, making it far more efficient for large fields.
The specific term is largely historical. The concept exists in modern 'multi-furrow' or 'moldboard plows' pulled by tractors, but these are rarely called 'gang plows' in contemporary farming.
The word 'gang' here comes from its older meaning of 'a set of similar tools arranged to work together' (like a 'gang of saws'). It refers to the group of plowshares working in unison.
A large agricultural implement consisting of multiple plowshares mounted on a single frame, designed to till several parallel furrows simultaneously.
Gang plow is usually technical/agricultural, historical in register.
Gang plow: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡæŋ ˌplaʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡæŋ ˌplaʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly associated; term is too technical]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'gang' of plows all hitched together in a line, working as a team to plow a field much faster than one could alone.
Conceptual Metaphor
EFFICIENCY IS MULTIPLE ACTORS WORKING IN UNISON (e.g., 'The new software update works like a gang plow, fixing dozens of bugs at once.').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a gang plow?