meadow
B1Formal/Informal, primarily literary and descriptive.
Definition
Meaning
A piece of grassland, especially one used for hay or for grazing animals, often containing wild flowers.
Figuratively, any peaceful, open, grassy area, or a setting evocative of rural tranquility and natural beauty.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Connotes natural beauty, peace, and agricultural/rural life. Less managed than a 'lawn' but more specific and often smaller than a 'field' (which can be for crops). Often implies the presence of flowers and grasses.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. The word is common in both varieties. In UK, 'water meadow' (flooded grassland) is a specific term. In US, 'meadow' might be used more broadly for natural clearings in wooded areas.
Connotations
Similar pastoral and idyllic connotations in both.
Frequency
Comparably frequent, though perhaps more common in UK place names and literature.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[PREP] in/on/across the meadow[ADJ] + meadowmeadow + [of + NOUN] (e.g., meadow of flowers)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A snake in the meadow (archaic/rare for a hidden danger)”
- “Make hay while the sun shines (related activity in a meadow)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in tourism or real estate (e.g., 'property with five acres of meadow').
Academic
Used in ecology, biology, geography, and literary studies.
Everyday
Common in descriptive language, travel, and nature contexts.
Technical
In ecology: a habitat type. In agriculture: land used for hay production.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The land was allowed to meadow over naturally.
- (Rare/archaic) They meadowed their sheep on the common land.
American English
- The old farmland is slowly meadowing as the trees recede.
- (Rare/archaic) The herd was meadowed in the valley.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form. Not used.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form. Not used.)
adjective
British English
- The meadow flowers were in full bloom.
- They admired the meadow landscape.
American English
- They built a house with a meadow view.
- The meadow habitat supports diverse species.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The cows are in the meadow.
- We had a picnic in the meadow.
- The path led through a beautiful wildflower meadow.
- Farmers cut the hay in the meadow every summer.
- The conservation project aims to restore the ancient water meadows along the river.
- The painting depicted an idyllic scene of a cottage nestled beside a rolling meadow.
- The proliferation of invasive species is threatening the delicate ecosystem of the alpine meadow.
- Her lyrical prose transformed the simple meadow into a metaphor for untrammeled innocence.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 'MEAD' in meadow - imagine drinking mead (an old drink) in a sunny, grassy field.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEADOW IS A PLACE OF PEACE / MEADOW IS A NATURAL CANVAS (for flowers).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'поле' (pole) which is a general 'field' often for crops. 'Meadow' is closer to 'луг' (lug).
- Avoid using 'лужайка' (luzhayka), which is a 'lawn' or small grassy patch, often manicured.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'meadow' interchangeably with 'forest clearing' (a clearing is defined by the absence of trees, a meadow by the presence of grass/flowers).
- Spelling: 'meadow' not 'meaddow'.
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase best describes a typical 'meadow'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A 'field' is a more general term for an open area of land, often used for crops or sports. A 'meadow' specifically implies grassland, often with wildflowers, used for grazing or hay, and connotes a more natural, pastoral scene.
Yes, it is a common word, especially in descriptive and literary contexts. It is learned at an intermediate (B1) level by English learners.
It is very rare and archaic. The verb form ('to meadow') means to convert land into meadow or to graze livestock on a meadow. In modern English, it is almost never used.
A water meadow is a low-lying area of grassland that is periodically flooded by a stream or river. This irrigation was historically managed to promote early grass growth for livestock.