trough

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A long, narrow, generally shallow receptacle for holding water or feed for animals.
2. n. Any of various similar containers for domestic or industrial use, such as kneading or washing.
3. n. A gutter under the eaves of a roof.
4. n. A long, narrow depression, as between waves or ridges.
5. n. A low point in a business cycle or on a statistical graph.
6. n. Meteorology An elongated region of relatively low atmospheric pressure, often associated with a front.
7. n. Physics A minimum point in a wave or an alternating signal.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. In mining, an oblong tank of boards or metal in which ores are washed for the separation of metal and gangue; a rocker, serving as a hand-buddle.
2. n. In coalmining, a passage cut through a supporting pillar of coal to connect one opened chamber with another. Also called thirling.
3. n. In geology, the lowest portion of a synclinal fold.
4. n. An open receptacle, generally long and narrow, as for water. Specifically— A wooden receptacle or basin in which to knead dough.
5. n. A large vessel, usually oblong, designed to hold water or food for animals.
6. n. A conduit for rain-water, placed under the eaves of a building; an eaves-trough.
7. n. In printing:
8. n. A watertight box in which paper is dipped to dampen it for the press.
9. n. The iron or metal-lined box in which inking-rollers are cleaned and forms are washed.
10. n. In fish-culture, a hatching-trough.
11. n. A small boat; a canoe or dug-out.
12. n. A concavity or hollow; a depression between two ridges or between two waves; an oblong basin-shaped hollow: as, the trough of the sea.
13. n. The array of connected cells of a voltaic battery, in which the copper and zinc plates of each pair are on opposite sides of the partition.
14. n. In chem., a vat or pan containing water over which gas is distilled.
15. n. In electroplating, a tray or vat which holds the metallic solution.
16. n. A similar device for holding the developing or fixing bath in dry-plate photography, in order that the changes in the plate submerged in the bath can be observed.
17. To feed grossly, as a hog from a trough.
18. To make into a trough, or into the shape of a trough.

Wiktionary

1. n. A long, narrow container, open on top, for feeding or watering animals.
2. n. Any similarly shaped container.
3. n. A short, narrow canal designed to hold water until it drains or evaporates.
4. n. Canada A gutter under the eaves of a building; an eaves trough.
5. n. agriculture, Australia, New Zealand A channel for conveying water or other farm liquids (such as milk) from place to place by gravity; any ‘U’ or ‘V’ cross-sectioned irrigation channel.
6. n. A long, narrow depression between waves or ridges; the low portion of a wave cycle.
7. n. meteorology A linear atmospheric depression associated with a weather front.
8. v. To eat in a vulgar style, as if eating from a trough

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. A long, hollow vessel, generally for holding water or other liquid, especially one formed by excavating a log longitudinally on one side; a long tray; also, a wooden channel for conveying water, as to a mill wheel.
2. n. Any channel, receptacle, or depression, of a long and narrow shape.
3. n. (Meteor.) The transverse section of a cyclonic area where the barometric pressure, neither rising nor falling, has reached its lowest point.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a long narrow shallow receptacle
2. n. a container (usually in a barn or stable) from which cattle or horses feed
3. n. a treasury for government funds
4. n. a concave shape with an open top
5. n. a narrow depression (as in the earth or between ocean waves or in the ocean bed)
6. n. a channel along the eaves or on the roof; collects and carries away rainwater