HARROW

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does harrow mean? 

• HARROW (noun)
  The noun HARROW has 1 sense:

1. a cultivator that pulverizes or smooths the soil

  Familiarity information: HARROW used as a noun is very rare.

• HARROW (verb)
  The verb HARROW has 1 sense:

1. draw a harrow over (land)

  Familiarity information: HARROW used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HARROW (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A cultivator that pulverizes or smooths the soil

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("harrow" is a kind of...):

cultivator; tiller (a farm implement used to break up the surface of the soil (for aeration and weed control and conservation of moisture))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "harrow"):

disc harrow; disk harrow (a harrow with a series of disks set on edge at an angle)

Derivation:

harrow (draw a harrow over (land))

• HARROW (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they harrow    ... he / she / it harrows   
Past simple: harrowed   
Past participle: harrowed   
-ing form: harrowing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Draw a harrow over (land)

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

disk; harrow

Hypernyms (to "harrow" is one way to...):

plough; plow; turn (to break and turn over earth especially with a plow)

Domain category:

agriculture; farming; husbandry (the practice of cultivating the land or raising stock)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

harrow (a cultivator that pulverizes or smooths the soil)

 Context examples 

Harrow and alas that ever I should have met him!

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I was aware also that I should often lose all self-command, all capacity of hiding the harrowing sensations that would possess me during the progress of my unearthly occupation.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Before we moved away Van Helsing said:—Now, my friends, one step of our work is done, one the most harrowing to ourselves.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

I have got some of you under the harrow.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

But Mr. Dashwood rejected any but thrilling tales, and as thrills could not be produced except by harrowing up the souls of the readers, history and romance, land and sea, science and art, police records and lunatic asylums, had to be ransacked for the purpose.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Harrow and alas! but they were worse than the others.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

These occasions are becoming harrowing times for us all, for each sunrise and sunset opens up some new danger—some new pain, which, however, may in God's will be means to a good end.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Strange and harrowing must be his story, frightful the storm which embraced the gallant vessel on its course and wrecked it—thus!

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

“Though harrowing to myself to mention, the alienation of Mr. Micawber (formerly so domesticated) from his wife and family, is the cause of my addressing my unhappy appeal to Mr. Traddles, and soliciting his best indulgence. Mr. T. can form no adequate idea of the change in Mr. Micawber's conduct, of his wildness, of his violence. It has gradually augmented, until it assumes the appearance of aberration of intellect. Scarcely a day passes, I assure Mr. Traddles, on which some paroxysm does not take place. Mr. T. will not require me to depict my feelings, when I inform him that I have become accustomed to hear Mr. Micawber assert that he has sold himself to the D. Mystery and secrecy have long been his principal characteristic, have long replaced unlimited confidence. The slightest provocation, even being asked if there is anything he would prefer for dinner, causes him to express a wish for a separation. Last night, on being childishly solicited for twopence, to buy “lemon-stunners”—a local sweetmeat—he presented an oyster-knife at the twins!

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

As Goethe, when he had a joy or a grief, put it into a song, so Laurie resolved to embalm his love sorrow in music, and to compose a Requiem which should harrow up Jo's soul and melt the heart of every hearer.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)