Meaning & Definition of word "Trowel"

Trowel

/ˈtraʊ.əl/

1. A small hand tool with a pointed, scoop-shaped blade used for digging, spreading, or smoothing material.
- Example: She used a trowel to smooth the surface of the newly poured concrete.
2. A flat-bladed tool used by bricklayers and masons to apply and spread mortar.
- Example: The mason carefully lifted the mortar with his trowel to lay the next brick.
3. A similar tool used in gardening for planting or transplanting.
- Example: He grabbed his trowel and started digging holes for the new flower bulbs.

1. To work with a trowel, especially to apply or spread material.
- Example: The worker troweled the plaster onto the wall to create a smooth finish.
2. To dig or scoop with a trowel.
- Example: She troweled the soil to aerate the flower beds.

Middle English, from Old French 'truelle', from Vulgar Latin 'trupella'; related to the Latin 'truncare' (to truncate).

trowel and error:

A play on 'trial and error', meaning to learn through mistakes in a building or gardening context.

to trowel on:

To apply materials in a thick or excessive manner.

spade:

A tool for digging with a broad blade.

hoe:

A gardening tool with a flat blade for cultivating soil.

shovel:

A tool for digging, lifting, and moving bulk materials.

Meaning: To trowel it on

Example Sentence: He really troweled it on with all the decorations at the party.

Meaning: Trowel up

Example Sentence: We'll need to trowel up some new ideas for the presentation.