plowshare

noun

plow·​share ˈplau̇-ˌsher How to pronounce plowshare (audio)
: a part of a plow that cuts the furrow

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web For bread, all vanished into an emptiness thirsty as old iron, a plowshare Left in a fallow field for decades beside a snakeskin wound through the eyehole Of a steer’s skull. The New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2022 The back yard, occasionally used as a party space, was bare, save for a medieval-style plowshare. Ian Volner, The New Yorker, 22 Nov. 2021 During a brief window during the Eisenhower era, the US government still seriously explored the peaceful uses of the atom—a program known as PLOWSHARE, after the Biblical phrase about beating swords into plowshares. Garrett M. Graff, WIRED, 26 Aug. 2019 What was once a great swords-to-plowshares example of former rivals sharing technology is now a point of tension—and Russian leverage. Joe Pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, 17 Apr. 2018 Trade wars, like all wars, empower government as plowshares are beaten into swords. Phil Gramm And, WSJ, 23 Mar. 2018 But across the Middle East, and among the great powers, there's little sign of the political will needed to turn swords into plowshares. Tim Lister, CNN, 21 Oct. 2017 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'plowshare.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ploughshare, from plough plow + schare plowshare — more at share entry 3

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of plowshare was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near plowshare

Cite this Entry

“Plowshare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plowshare. Accessed 29 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

plowshare

noun
plow·​share -ˌshe(ə)r How to pronounce plowshare (audio)
-ˌsha(ə)r
: the part of a plow that cuts the earth

More from Merriam-Webster on plowshare

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!


Challenging Standardized Test Words, Vol. 2

  • a pencil broken in half on top of a test answer sheet
  • The business’s new computer system proved not to be a panacea.
Name That Thing

You know what it looks like… but what is it called?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY