noun
trough
trof
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
Word Forms
troughed past tense, troughs plural, troughs singular
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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.