trowel

noun trow·el \ ˈtrau̇(-ə)l \

Updated on: 28 Feb 2018

Definition of trowel

: any of various hand tools used to apply, spread, shape, or smooth loose or plastic material; also : a scoop-shaped or flat-bladed garden tool for taking up and setting small plants

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See trowel defined for kids

Recent Examples of trowel from the Web

Use a soil probe or a trowel to make sure the roots are receiving the right amount of water.

— debbie arrington, sacbee, "Can tart grapefruit ever be sweet?," 9 Feb. 2018
The rhythm of dipping a trowel into the needles and tying off the bag is lulling, relaxing.

— elizabeth greenwood, Longreads, "The Month of Giving Dangerously," 31 Jan. 2018
Glacier archaeology, Pilø tells Zachos, is quite different from traditional archaeology in which researchers spend months or years digging in one spot with trowels and brushes.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Norway’s Melting Glaciers Release Over 2,000 Artifacts," 26 Jan. 2018
Sculpt the Walls Smooth and sculpt the walls of the fort with additional snow, using the smooth side of a snow shovel, a hand trowel or even the top to a plastic bin.

— sally walker davies, Popular Mechanics, "5 Tips for Building the Ultimate Snow Fort," 11 Feb. 2014
Seven days later, on May 26, Miller purchased concrete mix and a trowel, according to the affidavit, which does not state how or when the boy may have died.

— jeff truesdell, PEOPLE.com, "Mom and Boyfriend Allegedly Filmed Abuse of 3-Year-Old Boy Whose Body Was Found Encased in Concrete," 22 Dec. 2017
Instead of tennis, archery, and riflery, there would be milking cows and weeding vegetables, and a boy who distinguished himself would be rewarded not with a badge but with a trowel with his name written on the shaft in black magic marker.

— Town & Country, "Camp Tales," 10 Dec. 2012
Begrimed archaeologists, working under special lights, are using trowels and brushes to sift through the dirt and bones in deep excavations inside the structure of the current church, which dates to 1906.

— michael e. ruane, Washington Post, "Experts have uncovered remains at America’s first permanent colony. But whose bones are they?," 27 Oct. 2017
Just be careful so your trowel doesn't catch and pull the mesh or clip the cable.

— brett martin, Popular Mechanics, "How to Install In-Floor Heating," 26 Oct. 2017

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

Illustration of trowel

Origin and Etymology of trowel

Middle English truel, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin truella, from Latin trulla ladle

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

Other Hardware Terms

adze, auger, awl, chock, ferrule, punch, tang

trowel

verb

Definition of trowel

troweled or trowelled; troweling or trowelling

transitive verb

: to smooth, mix, or apply with or as if with a trowel

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troweler

noun

Recent Examples of trowel from the Web

Drywall will be thinner and more uniform than plaster, which is usually troweled right up to the electrical box.

— timothy dahl, Popular Mechanics, "How to Remove Wallpaper," 7 Feb. 2018
In addition to Chip and Jo painting the antiquarian island, the couple also finished the Romanesque cabinet by troweling a hard slab of concrete on top.

— michelle darrisaw, Southern Living, "Joanna Gaines Reveals the Favorite Part of Her Kitchen," 13 Oct. 2017
Downstairs is a guest bedroom with a nice sized walk-in closet, crown molding and troweled textured walls.

— star-telegram, "Ebby Halliday Realtors | Arlington," 21 May 2017

First Known Use of trowel

circa 1670

Other Building Terms

batten, cistern, hearth, lath, transom, wainscot

TROWEL Defined for English Language Learners

trowel

noun

Definition of trowel for English Language Learners

: a small tool with a curved blade that is used by gardeners for digging holes
: a small tool with a flat blade that is used for spreading and smoothing mortar or plaster