noun

trowel

TROW-uhl

noun

A small handheld tool with a flat or scoop-shaped blade, used for spreading mortar or digging in a garden.

"She used a trowel to plant the seedlings along the fence."

"The bricklayer smoothed the mortar with his trowel."

verb

To apply something thickly and without subtlety, often used figuratively.

"He trowelled the compliments on a bit too thick."

How to Use Trowel

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small tool for spreading material like mortar or soil, or (figuratively) to lay something on heavily.

Common pairings

garden trowel trowel on the flattery

troweled past tense, trowelled past tense, trowels plural, trowels singular

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She used a _____ to plant the seedlings along the fence.

From Middle French truelle, ultimately from Latin trulla, a diminutive of trua, "ladle."

vowel bowel towel