How Do You Spell PLOW UNDER?

Pronunciation: [plˈa͡ʊ ˈʌndə] (IPA)

The spelling of "plow under" can be challenging due to the variations in American and British English. In American English, "plow" is commonly spelled without the letter "u" as "plow," whereas in British English, it is spelled with a "u" as "plough." "Under," on the other hand, is spelled the same in both American and British English. In IPA phonetic transcription, "plow under" can be transcribed as /plaʊ ˈʌndər/ (in American English) or /plaʊ ˈʌndə/ (in British English).

PLOW UNDER Meaning and Definition

1. "Plow under" is a phrasal verb that refers to the act of burying or turning under crops, vegetation, or other organic material into the soil using a plow or similar equipment. This practice is typically employed in agriculture or gardening as a method of soil improvement, weed control, or land preparation.

   When "plowing under," farmers or gardeners use a plow to dig furrows or trenches in the ground, where they then bury the unwanted plants, crop residues, or cover crops in order to decompose and enrich the soil. By doing so, plowing under helps to recycle nutrients, enhance soil fertility, and improve its structure, drainage, and aeration.

   Furthermore, plowing under can be employed as a weed control strategy. By burying undesirable plants, their growth and reproduction can be hindered, preventing them from competing with the desired crops or plants. This method can also help suppress the germination of weed seeds by blocking sunlight and inhibiting their growth.

   In some cases, "plow under" can also be used metaphorically to describe the act of abandoning or disposing of something, usually a project, business, or idea, completely. The term implies that something is being permanently discarded or ignored, similar to how unwanted vegetation is buried beneath the soil during the plowing under process.

Common Misspellings for PLOW UNDER

• plowunder

Etymology of PLOW UNDER

The word "plow under" is derived from two separate words: "plow" and "under", both of which have distinct etymologies.

1. "Plow":

The term "plow" originated from the Old English word "plōh" with its Germanic roots. It can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "plōgaz" and the Proto-Indo-European root "*pleh₂k-", meaning to cut or split. Over time, the word evolved from "plōh" to "plōw" in Middle English and eventually to its modern spelling, "plow".

2. "Under":

The word "under" also has Old English origins, derived from the word "under" itself. It is closely related to the Proto-Germanic word "*undar", which translates to "under". This term has remained relatively unchanged throughout its history.

Idioms with the word PLOW UNDER

• plow under To destroy, eliminate, or bury something, often in order to make way for new growth or development.