Is 'mower' only used for grass?

Primarily yes, but historically it referred to crop-cutting machines too.

What's the difference between 'lawn mower' and 'lawnmower'?

No difference in meaning; 'lawnmower' is a closed compound, while 'lawn mower' is open.

Can 'mower' refer to a person?

Yes, but it's archaic (e.g., 'a mower in the field'). Modern usage is almost exclusively mechanical.

Is 'mower' a countable noun?

Yes (e.g., 'We have two mowers: one electric and one petrol').

mower

UK/ˈməʊ.ər/US/ˈmoʊ.ɚ/

Neutral to informal

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

A machine or person that cuts grass or crops.

Any device or person that cuts down vegetation; metaphorically, something that destroys or cuts through things efficiently.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

Primarily refers to lawn maintenance equipment; can be personified in literary contexts.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant lexical differences; both use 'lawn mower'/'lawnmower' interchangeably.

Connotations

Neutral in both varieties; associated with domestic chores and gardening.

Frequency

Equally common in both dialects during gardening seasons.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

lawn mowerride-on mowerpush mowergrass mower

medium

electric mowerpetrol mowermotor mowerhand mower

weak

noisy mowerbroken mowernew mowerold mower

Grammar

Valency Patterns

operate a mowerstart the mowerpush the mowerride a mower

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

lawnmower

Neutral

lawn cuttergrass cutter

Weak

trimmercutter

Vocabulary

Antonyms

planterseedercultivator

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“Asleep at the mower (play on 'asleep at the wheel')”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Rare except in gardening/landscaping industries.

Academic

Rare; appears in agricultural engineering contexts.

Everyday

Common in domestic and gardening discussions.

Technical

Used in horticulture and machinery specifications.

Examples

By CEFR Level

My dad uses the mower every Saturday.
The mower is in the garage.

We need to buy a new lawn mower before summer.
The electric mower is much quieter than the petrol one.

After servicing the mower, the lawn looked immaculate.
Ride-on mowers are essential for large estates.

The relentless mower of time spares no one in its path.
Modern robotic mowers can navigate gardens autonomously.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

MOWer cuts the grass so you can MOW the lawn.

Conceptual Metaphor

EFFICIENCY IS A MOWER (e.g., 'He's a mower through paperwork').

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Не путать с 'mow' (косить) – 'mower' только существительное.
В русском 'газонокосилка' – составное слово, в английском может быть 'lawn mower' или 'lawnmower'.

Common Mistakes

Using 'mower' as a verb (incorrect: 'I will mower the lawn').
Misspelling as 'more' in typing errors.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

I need to the mower before I can cut the grass.

Multiple Choice

What is a 'ride-on mower' primarily used for?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: Primarily yes, but historically it referred to crop-cutting machines too.
: No difference in meaning; 'lawnmower' is a closed compound, while 'lawn mower' is open.
: Yes, but it's archaic (e.g., 'a mower in the field'). Modern usage is almost exclusively mechanical.
: Yes (e.g., 'We have two mowers: one electric and one petrol').