hoe

¹

[ hoh ]

noun

1. a long-handled implement having a thin, flat blade usually set transversely, used to break up the surface of the ground, destroy weeds, etc.
2. any of various implements of similar form, as for mixing plaster or mortar.

verb (used with object)

, hoed, hoe·ing.

1. to dig, scrape, weed, cultivate, etc., with a hoe.

verb (used without object)

, hoed, hoe·ing.

1. to use a hoe.

Hoe

²

[ hoh ]

noun

1. Richard, 1812–86, U.S. inventor and manufacturer of printing-press equipment.
2. his father Robert, 1784–1833, U.S. manufacturer of printing presses.

hoe

/ həʊ /

noun

1. any of several kinds of long-handled hand implement equipped with a light blade and used to till the soil, eradicate weeds, etc

verb

1. to dig, scrape, weed, or till (surface soil) with or as if with a hoe

Derived Forms

• ˈhoer, noun
• ˈhoeˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• hoer noun
• hoelike adjective
• un·hoed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoe¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English howe, from Old French houe, from Germanic; compare Middle Dutch houwe, Old High German houwa “mattock”; akin to hew

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoe¹

C14: via Old French houe from Germanic: compare Old High German houwā, houwan to hew , German Haue hoe

Idioms and Phrases

see tough row to hoe .

Example Sentences

Among the strategies Weller recommended are inter-row hoeing, which helps suppress weeds; thermal weeding, which uses heat to kill weeds; and bio-herbicides, which use microorganisms for weed control.

From Los Angeles Times

The last stretch of the journey to Cynthia takes me along a dirt track, past meandering cattle, a man hoeing his vegetable patch, and groups of women and children returning from church.

From BBC

A hoe, a saw, a rake...none of these were big enough.

From Literature

He then said his final words to her before he was hacked to death with a hoe.

From New York Times

Handheld tools, long-handled hoes, propane weed burners and even goats figure alongside herbicides and their impact on the environment.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• bore
• bulldoze
• burrow
• clean
• discover
• dredge
• drill
• enter
• excavate
• exhume
• go into
• gouge
• harvest
• penetrate
• scoop
• search
• shovel
• sift
• uncover
• unearth