trowel

1 of 2

noun

trow·​el ˈtrau̇(-ə)l 

: 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

Illustration of trowel

• 1 gardener's
• 2 plasterer's
• 3 bricklayer's

trowel

2 of 2

verb

troweled or trowelled; troweling or trowelling

transitive verb

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

troweler noun

Examples of trowel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Use a long, slender trowel to dig a single-occupancy hole, or dig a wide hole to plant a group of bulbs. — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026

Wrap your hand around the base of the weed and pull up, taking all of the roots with you, or use a trowel to dig up the plant. — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 26 Sep. 2026

Verb

It was troweled smooth as silk. — Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 11 Apr. 2026

Andrew’s bumbling nature is done no favors by the padded suits and troweled makeup that never really transform Sheen, but abet the actor’s semi-comic approach. — Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1670, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

trowel

1 of 2 noun

trow·​el ˈtrau̇(-ə)l 

1

: a small hand tool consisting of a flat blade with a handle used for spreading and smoothing mortar or plaster

2

: a small hand tool with a curved blade used by gardeners

trowel

2 of 2 verb

troweled or trowelled; troweling or trowelling

: to smooth, mix, or apply with a trowel