mower

UK: /ˈməʊə^r/ US: (mō′ər)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

mow•er  (mō′ər), n. 

1. Mechanical Engineering See lawn mower. 
2. Mechanical Engineering See mowing machine. 

• 1400–50; late Middle English: one who mows; see mow¹, -er¹

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

mow¹ /moʊ/   v., mowed, mowed or mown/moʊn/  mow•ing. 

1. Agriculture to cut down (grass, etc.), esp. with a machine: [~ + object]
   He earned money mowing lawns.
   [no object]
   She was out mowing all morning.
2. mow down:
   • to destroy or kill in great numbers, as in a battle: [~ + object + down]
     mowed them down with the machine gun.
     [~ + down + object]
     mowed down the advancing troops.
   • to overwhelm or defeat: [~ + down + object]
     The pitcher mowed down one batter after another.
     [~ + object + down]
     The pitcher mowed them down.

mow•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

mow¹  (mō), v., mowed, mowed or mown, mow•ing. 
v.t. 

1. Agriculture to cut down (grass, grain, etc.) with a scythe or a machine.
2. Agriculture to cut grass, grain, etc., from:
   to mow the lawn.

v.i. 

3. Agriculture to cut down grass, grain, etc.
4. mow down:
   • to destroy or kill indiscriminately or in great numbers, as troops in battle.
   • to defeat, overwhelm, or overcome:
     The team mowed down its first four opponents.
   • to knock down.

• bef. 900; Middle English mowen, Old English māwan; cognate with German mähen

mow²  (mou), n. 

1. Agriculture the place in a barn where hay, sheaves of grain, etc., are stored.
2. Agriculture a heap or pile of hay or of sheaves of grain in a barn.

v.t. 

3. Dialect Terms, Agriculture [Chiefly Northern and North Midland U.S.] to store (hay) in a barn.

• bef. 900; Middle English mow(e), Old English mūwa, mūha, mūga; cognate with Old Norse mūgi swath

mow³  (mou, mō), [Archaic.]
n. 

1. a wry or derisive grimace.

v.i. 

2. to make mows, mouths, or grimaces.

Also, mowe. 

• Frankish; akin to Middle Dutch mouwe protruded lip
• Middle French moue lip, pout, Old French moe
• Middle English mowe 1275–1325