arable

American  

[ar-uh-buhl] / ˈær ə bəl /

adjective

1. capable of producing crops; suitable for farming; suited to the plow and for tillage.

   arable land; arable soil.

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noun

1. land that can be or is cultivated.

arable British  

/ ˈærəbəl /

adjective

1. (of land) being or capable of being tilled for the production of crops

2. of, relating to, or using such land

   arable farming

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noun

1. arable land or farming

Other Word Forms

• arability noun

Etymology

Origin of arable

1375–1425; < Latin arābilis, equivalent to arā ( re ) to plow + -bilis -ble; replacing late Middle English erable, equivalent to er ( en ) to plow ( Old English erian ) + -able -able

Example Sentences

David Gunn, an arable farmer and agricultural contractor from near Sevenoaks in Kent, said: "Inheritance tax is going to cripple the farmers, the small family farmers."

From BBC

One of the farms targeted belonged to William Maughan, a beef, poultry and arable farmer in County Durham whose parents live on the premises.

From BBC

Brazil overtook the U.S. as the world’s top soybean exporter over a decade ago, helped by an influx of investment and lots of arable land.

From The Wall Street Journal

And the overall decline is why my husband and I decided to create our own wildflower meadow from an overgrown arable field.

From BBC

Gloucestershire arable and livestock farmer David Barton said he felt "completely abandoned" by the move.

From BBC