trowel
trowel
Definition
trowel (tro̵u′əl)
noun
any of several small hand tools for spreading, smoothing, scooping, etc.; specif.,
- a tool with a thin, flat, rectangular blade, used for smoothing plaster
- a tool with a thin, flat, pointed blade for applying and shaping mortar, as in bricklaying
- a tool with a pointed scoop for loosening soil, digging holes, etc. in a garden
Etymology: ME truel < MFr truelle < LL truella for L trulla, small ladle, scoop, trowel < trua, stirring spoon, ladle, prob. < IE base *twer-, to stir > turbid
transitive verb -·eled or -·elled, -·el·ing or -·el·ling
to spread, smooth, shape, dig, etc. with a trowel
trowel
Synonyms
trowel
n.
trowel
Usage Examples
Object
- surface: Leave a rough trowelled surface at this first layer.
Converse of object
- notch: The mortar is applied using a tooth notched trowel to give a 3 to 6mm adhesive bed.
- gage: Or are u going to suggest the gaging trowel?
- bring: Luckily Tina had thought to bring a small trowel as well.
- point: Use the pointing trowel to push in more mortar where you can see any voids.
- use: Using the trowel, scoop out a clump of mortar from the middle of the bed.
- find: After years of trying to find trowels for trench archeology, we decided to set up a website with that in mind.
Adjective modifier
- small: Spread adhesive over a manageable area of about one square meter at a time, using a small trowel or large filling knife.
- own: Atkinson was also forever advising us students to mark our own trowels: ` Every tool should be branded... to discourage theft ' .
- stainless: Apply one coat of priming varnish using a stainless steel trowel.
- silver: Lady Jersey was presented with a silver trowel to mark the occasion.
- new: You guys any ideas how to break my new trowel in.
Possessives
- bricklayer: Leaving aside the tunics, the scene is surprisingly modern, even down to the shape of the bricklayer's trowel.
- mason: At his side is a mason's trowel, probably nearer 6in than five.
Noun used with modifier
- plasterer: For internal plastering a combination of wood and sponge floats and a plasterers trowel can be used to create a smooth polished finish.
- steel: Apply one coat of priming varnish using a stainless steel trowel.
- garden: Plant them at the correct final spacing in well-prepared ground using a garden trowel.
- hand: If you don't like the feel of slugs use a hand trowel to pick them up.
- power: Remember that a power trowel will not level a concrete floor.
- silver: The silver trowel used for this ceremony is preserved among the town plate.
trowel Quotes
She lays it on with a trowel.
Browse dictionary entries near trowel
- trow
- trover
- trove
- Trouville
- trouvaille
- trouvère
- trout-perch
- trout lily
- trout
- trousseau
- troy
- troy ounce
- troy weight
- Troyes
- TRS
- TRS-80
- truancy
- truant
- truant officer
- truantry
