fallow

1
[ fal-oh ]
/ ˈfæl oʊ /

adjective

(of land) plowed and left unseeded for a season or more; uncultivated.
not in use; inactive: My creative energies have lain fallow this year.

noun

land that has undergone plowing and harrowing and has been left unseeded for one or more growing seasons.

verb (used with object)

to make (land) fallow for agricultural purposes.

Origin of fallow

1
1275–1325; Middle English falwe; compare Old English fealga, plural of *fealh, as gloss of Medieval Latin occas harrows

OTHER WORDS FROM fallow

fal·low·ness, noun un·fal·lowed, adjective

Definition for fallow (2 of 2)

fallow 2
[ fal-oh ]
/ ˈfæl oʊ /

adjective

pale-yellow; light-brown; dun.

Origin of fallow

2
before 1000; Middle English fal(o)we, Old English fealu; cognate with German falb

Example sentences from the Web for fallow

British Dictionary definitions for fallow (1 of 2)

fallow 1
/ (ˈfæləʊ) /

adjective

(of land) left unseeded after being ploughed and harrowed to regain fertility for a crop
(of an idea, state of mind, etc) undeveloped or inactive, but potentially useful

noun

land treated in this way

verb

(tr) to leave (land) unseeded after ploughing and harrowing it

Derived forms of fallow

fallowness, noun

Word Origin for fallow

Old English fealga; related to Greek polos ploughed field

British Dictionary definitions for fallow (2 of 2)

fallow 2
/ (ˈfæləʊ) /

adjective

of a light yellowish-brown colour

Word Origin for fallow

Old English fealu; related to Old Norse fölr, Old Saxon, Old High German falo, Latin pallidus Greek polios grey