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fallow1 definition

fal·low (fal′ō)

noun

  1. land plowed but not seeded for one or more growing seasons, to kill weeds, make the soil richer, etc.
  2. the plowing of land to be left idle in this way

Etymology: ME falow < OE fealh, akin to fealh, harrow, felly (of wheel) < IE base *pelk-, to turn > Gael olca, fallow land

adjective

  1. left uncultivated or unplanted
  2. untrained; inactive: said esp. of the mind

transitive verb

to leave (land) unplanted after plowing

Etymology: ME falwen < OE fealgian < fealh, fallow land; infl. by fealwian, to fade < fealo: see fallow

Related Forms:

fallow Idioms

lie fallow

to remain uncultivated, unused, unproductive, etc. for a time
fallow2 definition

fal·low (fal′ō)

adjective

pale-yellow; brownish-yellow

Etymology: ME falwe < OE fealo, akin to Ger fahl, fallow < Gmc *falwa < IE base *pel-, gray, pale > L pallidus

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

fallow Synonyms

fallow

modif.

  1. Uncultivated

    untilled, unsowed, neglected, unplowed, unseeded, unplanted, unproductive; see also unused 1.

  2. Idle

    inert, inactive, dormant; see idle 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

fallow Usage Examples

Object

  • year: Fallowing every 5th year over a 15 year period reduced seed numbers by 75 % .

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • leave: Leaving sites fallow will reduce the risk of disease or parasite transmission.

Modifies a noun

  • deer: The main herds are of fallow deer which now probably number almost a thousand.

Used with adjective complement

  • lie: To the east two hundred places Where a thousand farms lie fallow.

Noun used with modifier

  • forest: No room was left for intermediate or temporary forms such as forest fallows.

Modifying Another Word

  • previously: In addition, 13 previously fallow discoveries have now had plans for development approved.

Preposition: for

  • year: Seed numbers in soil are reduced to less than 20 % by fallowing for a year.
fallow usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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"fallow." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/fallow>

APA Style

fallow. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/fallow

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