First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1fallow
adjective fal·low \ˈfa-(ˌ)lō\
Definition of FALLOW
: of a light yellowish-brown color
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Origin of FALLOW
Middle English falow, from Old English fealu; akin to Old High German falo pale, fallow, Latin pallēre to be pale, Greek polios gray
2fallow
noun
Definition of FALLOW
1
: usu. cultivated land that is allowed to lie idle during the growing season
2
obsolete : plowed land
3
: the state or period of being fallow
4
: the tilling of land without sowing it for a season
See fallow defined for kids
Origin of FALLOW
Middle English falwe, falow, from Old English fealg — more at felly
First Known Use: before 12th century
3fallow
verb
Definition of FALLOW
transitive verb
: to plow, harrow, and break up (land) without seeding to destroy weeds and conserve soil moisture
First Known Use of FALLOW
15th century
4fallow
adjective
Definition of FALLOW
1
: left untilled or unsown after plowing
2
: dormant, inactive —used especially in the phrase to lie fallow <at this very moment there are probably important inventions lying fallow — Harper's>
— fal·low·ness noun
First Known Use of FALLOW
15th century
FALLOW Defined for Kids
fallow
adjective fal·low \ˈfa-lō\
Definition of FALLOW for Kids
: not tilled or planted <fallow fields>
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