Trowel

/ˈtraʊ.əl/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A small hand tool with a pointed, scoop-shaped blade used for digging, spreading, or smoothing material.

She used a trowel to smooth the surface of the newly poured concrete.

A flat-bladed tool used by bricklayers and masons to apply and spread mortar.

The mason carefully lifted the mortar with his trowel to lay the next brick.

A similar tool used in gardening for planting or transplanting.

He grabbed his trowel and started digging holes for the new flower bulbs.

verb

To work with a trowel, especially to apply or spread material.

The worker troweled the plaster onto the wall to create a smooth finish.

To dig or scoop with a trowel.

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.

To trowel it on

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

Trowel up

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