hoe

Everyday

1. A garden tool with a long handle and a flat blade, used to cut weeds and loosen the soil. tree →
2. (verb) To dig, weed or loosen soil with a hoe. tree →
3. (rude, slang) A spelling of «ho», a very rude insulting word for a woman; not for school. tree →

In the lessons

In science and gardening lessons: a hoe keeps weeds down so vegetables can grow. Farmers in history hoed fields by hand. Pupils may hoe the school vegetable patch. In stories, a gardener leans on his hoe.

Examples

• Grandad used a hoe to cut the weeds. tree →
• We hoed the vegetable patch at school. tree →
• Hoeing loosens the soil so water can sink in. tree →
• The farmer hoed between the rows of potatoes. tree →
• Leave the hoe in the shed when you finish. tree →
• The gardener rested on his hoe and smiled. tree →
• The first thing he saw was Mr. McGregor hoeing onions. tree →

Note

Homophone traps: «hoe» (garden tool), «ho» (rude slang), «whoa» (stop!). Verb forms: hoes, hoed, hoeing (keep the e).

In Jewish tradition

In science and gardening lessons: a hoe keeps weeds down so vegetables can grow. Farmers in history hoed fields by hand. Pupils may hoe the school vegetable patch. In stories, a gardener leans on his hoe.

Examples

• The grains shrivel under their hoes; the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered. (Prophets JOL.1.17, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Homophone traps: «hoe» (garden tool), «ho» (rude slang), «whoa» (stop!). Verb forms: hoes, hoed, hoeing (keep the e).