A Meadow Is Land That Gets Mown
A meadow is grassland, and its name means a mowing. The distinction from pasture is what happens to the grass.
A meadow is grassland, and the name states its purpose: Old English *mædwe* comes from the verb *mawan*, to mow. The distinction from *pasture* is functional: meadow is cut for hay, pasture is grazed directly by animals. Traditional hay meadows, cut late in the season, are among the richest habitats in Britain and have declined sharply.
- Grassland cut for hay. *A wildflower meadow.*
- Any grassy field. *A riverside meadow.*
- Pasture — grazed rather than mown. *Rough pasture.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | meadow | A hay meadow. |
| Plural | meadows | Water meadows. |
| Verb | mow | Mow the grass. |
| Related | aftermath | The aftermath. |
| Related | pasture | Upland pasture. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Hay meadows are cut in July.After wildflowers have set seed.
- Aftermath originally meant a second mowing.After the main hay crop.
- A water meadow is deliberately flooded.To warm the soil and boost growth.
Grassland types
- Meadow — mown for hay
- Pasture — grazed by livestock
- Water meadow — deliberately flooded in winter
- Machair — a fertile coastal grassland in Scotland and Ireland
- Aftermath — the growth after the first hay cut, and the source of the modern word
From Old English *mædwe*, from *mæd*, a mown field, from *mawan*, to mow.
Meadow or pasture?
A meadow is cut for hay; a pasture is grazed. The same field can be used for both at different times of year.
Does *aftermath* really come from mowing?
Yes. It meant the second crop of grass growing after the hay was cut, and only later came to mean consequences.