noun
Uncommon
trough
trof
Trough (noun) means a long, open container used to hold food or water for animals. Example: “The pigs crowded around the trough at feeding time.”
noun
1
A long, open container used to hold food or water for animals.
"The pigs crowded around the trough at feeding time."
2
The lowest point of a wave, cycle, or graph, opposite of a peak.
"Sales hit a trough in January before picking up again in spring."
"The boat dipped into the trough between two large waves."
How to use trough
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a container animals feed or drink from, or the low point in any repeating up-and-down pattern, like waves or an economy.
Common pairings
feeding trough
peaks and troughs
economic trough
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like trough.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- troughs
- Third person singular
- troughs
- Past tense
- troughed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The pigs crowded around the _____ at feeding time.
Etymology
From Old English trog, "a container for liquid," related to the word "tree" — early troughs were carved from hollowed logs.
Related words
Rhymes for trough
See all rhymes for trough →Frequently asked questions
What does “trough” mean?
The word “trough” means a long, open container used to hold food or water for animals. In plain terms, either a container animals feed or drink from, or the low point in any repeating up-and-down pattern, like waves or an economy.
How do you pronounce “trough”?
“Trough” is pronounced trof (/tɹɔθ/ in IPA).
How do you use “trough” in a sentence?
Here is “trough” used in a sentence: “The pigs crowded around the trough at feeding time.”
What is another word for “trough”?
Words with a similar meaning to “trough” include manger.
What part of speech is “trough”?
“Trough” is a noun.
Where does the word “trough” come from?
The word “trough” comes from Old English. From Old English trog, "a container for liquid," related to the word "tree" — early troughs were carved from hollowed logs.
Is “trough” a common word?
“Trough” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “trough” have?
“Trough” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a long, open container used to hold food or water for animals.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include trough:
