trough

Everyday

1. A trough is a long narrow open box that holds water or food for farm animals like pigs, cows or horses. tree →
2. (science) A trough is the low point between two waves, or between two high points on a graph. tree →
3. (weather) A trough is a long area of low air pressure, which often brings rain. tree →
4. A trough is a low or bad time, after a good one, as in «peaks and troughs». tree →
5. (informal) To have your snout in the trough means to take more money or benefits than you should. tree →

In the lessons

On the farm, animals drink from a trough. In science lessons about waves (sound, light, water), the crest is the top and the trough is the bottom; the height from the middle to the crest is the amplitude. On line graphs, the lowest dips are troughs. Phrases: «peaks and troughs», «water trough», «feeding trough».

Examples

• The pigs pushed their noses into the trough. tree →
• The horse drank from the stone trough by the gate. tree →
• The boat sank into the trough between two huge waves. tree →
• Label the crest and the trough on your wave diagram. tree →
• The graph shows peaks in summer and troughs in winter. tree →
• A trough of low pressure will bring rain tomorrow. tree →
• Business has its peaks and troughs. tree →
• The Worm drew nearer and nearer, till at last it came up to the trough. tree →

Note

Said «troff» (rhymes with off), not «trow» or «true». Plural: troughs. Opposite of trough on a wave is «crest» (or «peak»). Spelling trap: ough is said many ways — tough, through, though, trough, bough.

In Jewish tradition

A trough is a container. In the Torah it is a kneading-trough, a bowl for making dough. In Judges it is a watering-trough for animals, where people gather and tell of God's righteous acts. In the primary lessons: On the farm, animals drink from a trough. In science lessons about waves (sound, light, water), the crest is the top and the trough is the bottom; the height from the middle to the crest is the amplitude. On line graphs, the lowest dips are troughs. Phrases: «peaks and troughs», «water trough», «feeding trough».

Examples

• Blessed shall be thy basket and thy kneading-trough. (Torah DEU.28.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• Cursed shall be thy basket and thy kneading-trough. (Torah DEU.28.17, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading-troughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. (Torah EXO.12.34, JPS 1917) tree →
• Louder than the voice of archers, by the watering-troughs! there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD, even the righteous acts of His rulers in Israel. (Prophets JDG.5.11, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Said «troff» (rhymes with off), not «trow» or «true». Plural: troughs. Opposite of trough on a wave is «crest» (or «peak»). Spelling trap: ough is said many ways — tough, through, though, trough, bough.