lawn mower
B1Neutral. Common in everyday, gardening, and home maintenance contexts. Can appear in technical manuals, retail, and informal conversation.
Definition
Meaning
A machine, typically with a motor or engine, used for cutting grass on a lawn to a uniform height.
The term can refer to both the machine itself and the act of mowing as a continuous activity (e.g., 'I do the lawn mower every Saturday'). It can also metaphorically describe any systematic, repetitive cutting or trimming process.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically a compound noun. Often conceptualized as a tool for 'tidying' or 'maintaining' an outdoor domestic space. Implies regularity and upkeep.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'lawnmower' is often written as one word. In the US, the two-word form 'lawn mower' is more standard, though 'lawnmower' is also accepted. The term 'mower' alone is common in both varieties.
Connotations
Similar connotations of domestic chore, suburban life, and weekend maintenance in both cultures.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties. Slight preference in UK marketing for 'lawnmower'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + start/use/repair + [lawn mower][Lawn mower] + cut/trim + [lawn/grass]mow + [lawn] + with + [lawn mower]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Don't reinvent the lawn mower. (variation on 'reinvent the wheel')”
- “Like a lawn mower in a china shop. (implies clumsy destruction)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Retail of garden machinery; home services advertising.
Academic
Rare. Possibly in engineering design or environmental studies on noise pollution.
Everyday
Very high. Discussing household chores, garden care, or equipment failures.
Technical
Specifications for engine power, cutting width, safety features, and maintenance procedures.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He's out lawn-mowing.
- I need to lawn-mow before the rain comes.
American English
- He's out mowing the lawn.
- I need to mow before the rain comes.
adverb
British English
- He finished the job lawn-mower-quickly.
American English
- He ran lawn-mower fast across the yard.
adjective
British English
- The lawn-mowing service is booked for Tuesday.
- We had a lawnmower-related incident.
American English
- The lawn mowing service is booked for Tuesday.
- We had a lawn-mower-related incident.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The lawn mower is in the garage.
- My father uses the lawn mower.
- I need to buy petrol for the lawn mower this weekend.
- Our old lawn mower is very noisy.
- After servicing the lawn mower, the grass cut much more evenly.
- He invested in a robotic lawn mower to save time.
- The environmental impact of petrol-powered lawn mowers is increasingly being questioned.
- The design of the lawn mower's mulching system is highly efficient.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a lion (sounds like 'lawn') that mows (cuts) instead of roars. The 'Lion Mower'.
Conceptual Metaphor
DOMESTIC ORDER IS TRIMMED GRASS. The lawn mower is the agent of imposing order on nature.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'газонная косилка'. Standard term is 'газонокосилка' (lawnmower) or 'косилка для газона'.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling: 'lawnmore' (incorrect).
- Using 'lawn mower' for a 'strimmer' or 'brush cutter'.
- Pronunciation: stressing 'mow' as /maʊ/ like 'cow' instead of /məʊ/ or /moʊ/.
Practice
Quiz
Which term is typically two words in American English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are correct. 'Lawnmower' (one word) is more common in British English, while 'lawn mower' (two words) is the preferred form in American English.
A lawn mower cuts large, flat areas of grass to an even height. A strimmer (UK)/weed whacker (US) uses a rotating nylon line to trim grass and weeds around edges, fences, and trees.
Not standardly. The verb is 'to mow' or 'to mow the lawn'. However, the compound 'lawn-mow' is occasionally used informally (e.g., 'I'm going to lawn-mow').
Push mowers (manual or motorized), self-propelled mowers, ride-on mowers, and robotic mowers. They can be powered by electricity (corded or battery), petrol/gas, or manually.
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