trowel
noun
trow·el
| \ ˈtrau̇(-ə)l
\
\
Definition of trowel
(Entry 1 of 2)
: any of various hand tools used to apply, spread, shape, or smooth loose or plastic material
also
: a scoop-shaped or flat-bladed garden tool for taking up and setting small plants
trowel
verb
troweled
or trowelled;
troweling
or trowelling
Definition of trowel (Entry 2 of 2)
: to smooth, mix, or apply with or as if with a trowel
Illustration of trowel
Noun
trowel: 1 gardener's, 2 plasterer's, 3 bricklayer's
In the meaning defined above
Keep scrolling for more
Examples of trowel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
The coconut crabs on the island of Nikumaroro are longer than a reporter’s notebook, wider than an archaeologist’s trowel, and roughly the same size as an explorer’s hiking boot. — Rachel Hartigan Shea, National Geographic, "Colossal crabs may hold clue to Amelia Earhart fate," 20 Aug. 2019 Take your sharp trowel and stick it into the top of a straw bale, then move it back and forth to make a spot for your seed or seedling. — Selena Barrientos, House Beautiful, "Here's Why You'll Want to Try Straw Bale Gardening This Summer," 22 July 2019 Armed with trowels, quart-size canning jars, and ample bleach to sanitize their shovels and shoes, the squad descended onto what remained of the town and began taking soil samples. — Carrie Arnold, WIRED, "A Blazing Hot Coal Seam Shows How Microbes Can Spring to Life," 21 Apr. 2019 Likewise the metaphors, starting with the ants themselves, which are there to be seen in increasing numbers as things go on, are laid on with a trowel. — Jonathan Holland, The Hollywood Reporter, "'The Awakening of the Ants' ('El Despertar de la Hormigas'): Film Review," 23 July 2019 Every night, the moment provisions for patients’ sandwiches appear in a common area, the doctor does, too: Snapping open pop cans with a thick thumb, smearing mayonnaise, stacking sandwiches—a hand like a trowel. — Abigail Deutsch, Harper's magazine, "Bette on the Blues," 22 July 2019 There’s still space to commend in advance the winners in our world whose achievements inspire the rest of us NOT to turn in the trowel despite setbacks and disappointments. — Bonnie Blodgett, Twin Cities, "Blundering Gardener: To be a gardener, it’s best to embrace the win some, lose some philosophy," 22 June 2019 Volunteers should bring their own trowel or digger and gardening gloves. — Carol Kovach, cleveland.com, "Fairview Fleafest to set up shop on June 8: A Place in the Sun," 4 June 2019 At 70, Kent Phillips could have thrown in the trowel. — Mike Klingaman, baltimoresun.com, "How a Columbia gardener turns his tiny plot into a full-fledged feast," 4 June 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Jay Longino’s screenplay lards all the hoop action and comedy with troweled-on sentimentality and even a little romance — a little in this case still being too much. — Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, "In ‘Uncle Drew,’ Kyrie dribbles, Kyrie shoots, Kyrie acts," 27 June 2018 The treatment also distinguishes the living room from the dining area and contrasts with the troweled-concrete floor. — Marni Elyse Katz, BostonGlobe.com, "Sisters build a relaxed summer retreat in coastal Maine," 15 June 2018 Rooms feature both Oaxacan tiles and troweled concrete. — Jennifer Fernandez, WSJ, "’50s Motels Go From Bleak to Chic," 8 June 2018 Drywall will be thinner and more uniform than plaster, which is usually troweled right up to the electrical box. — Timothy Dahl, Popular Mechanics, "How to Remove Wallpaper," 7 Feb. 2018 In addition to Chip and Jo painting the antiquarian island, the couple also finished the Romanesque cabinet by troweling a hard slab of concrete on top. — Michelle Darrisaw, Southern Living, "Joanna Gaines Reveals the Favorite Part of Her Kitchen," 13 Oct. 2017 Downstairs is a guest bedroom with a nice sized walk-in closet, crown molding and troweled textured walls. — star-telegram, "Ebby Halliday Realtors | Arlington," 21 May 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'trowel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for trowel
trowel
noun
English Language Learners Definition of trowel
: a small tool with a curved blade that is used by gardeners for digging holes
: a small tool with a flat blade that is used for spreading and smoothing mortar or plaster
See the full definition for trowel in the English Language Learners Dictionary
trowel
noun
trow·el
| \ ˈtrau̇-əl
\
\
Kids Definition of trowel
1
: a small hand tool with a flat blade used for spreading and smoothing mortar or plaster
2
: a small hand tool with a curved blade used by gardeners