Trough vs. Through

Trough vs. Through — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Trough and Through

Troughnoun

A long, narrow container, open on top, for feeding or watering animals.

One of Hank's chores was to slop the pigs' trough each morning and evening.

Throughpreposition

From one side of an opening to the other.

I went through the window.

Troughnoun

Any similarly shaped container.

Throughpreposition

Entering, then later leaving.

I drove through the town at top speed without looking left or right.

Troughnoun

A rectangular container used for washing or rinsing clothes.

Ernest threw his paint brushes into a kind of trough he had fashioned from sheet metal that he kept in the sink.

Throughpreposition

Surrounded by (while moving).

We slogged through the mud for hours before turning back and giving up.
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Troughnoun

A short, narrow canal designed to hold water until it drains or evaporates.

There was a small trough that the sump pump emptied into; it was filled with mosquito larvae.

Throughpreposition

By means of.

This team believes in winning through intimidation.

Troughnoun

(Canada) A gutter under the eaves of a building; an eaves trough.

The troughs were filled with leaves and needed clearing.

Throughpreposition

(North America) To (or up to) and including, with all intermediate values.

from 1945 through 1991;the numbers 1 through 9;your membership is active through March 15, 2013

Troughnoun

A channel for conveying water or other farm liquids (such as milk) from place to place by gravity; any ‘U’ or ‘V’ cross-sectioned irrigation channel.

Throughadjective

Passing from one side of something to the other.

Interstate highways form a nationwide system of through roads.
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Troughnoun

A long, narrow depression between waves or ridges; the low portion of a wave cycle.

The buoy bobbed between the crests and troughs of the waves moving across the bay.The neurologist pointed to a troubling trough in the pattern of his brain-waves.

Throughadjective

Finished; complete.

They were through with laying the subroof by noon.

Troughnoun

(meteorology) A linear atmospheric depression associated with a weather front.

Throughadjective

Valueless; without a future.

After being implicated in the scandal, he was through as an executive in financial services.

Troughverb

To eat in a vulgar style, as if from a trough.

he troughed his way through three meat pies.

Throughadjective

No longer interested.

She was through with him.

Troughnoun

a narrow depression (as in the earth or between ocean waves or in the ocean bed)

Throughadjective

Proceeding from origin to destination without delay due to change of equipment.

The through flight through Memphis was the fastest.

Troughnoun

a channel along the eaves or on the roof; collects and carries away rainwater

Throughadjective

(association football) In possession of the ball beyond the last line of defence but not necessarily the goalkeeper; through on goal.

Troughnoun

a concave shape with an open top

Throughadverb

From one side to the other by way of the interior.

The arrow went straight through.

Troughnoun

a treasury for government funds

Throughadverb

From one end to the other.

Others slept; he worked straight through.She read the letter through.

Troughnoun

a long narrow shallow receptacle

Throughadverb

To the end.

He said he would see it through.

Troughnoun

a container (usually in a barn or stable) from which cattle or horses feed

Throughadverb

Completely.

Leave the yarn in the dye overnight so the color soaks through.

Throughadverb

Out into the open.

The American army broke through at St. Lo.

Throughnoun

A large slab of stone laid in a dry-stone wall from one side to the other; a perpend.

Throughnoun

(obsolete) A coffin, sarcophagus or tomb of stone; a large slab of stone laid on a tomb.

Throughadjective

having finished or arrived at completion;

certain to make history before he's doneit's a done deedafter the treatment, the patient is through except for follow-upalmost through with his studies

Throughadjective

of a route or journey etc.; continuing without requiring stops or changes;

a through streeta through busthrough traffic

Throughadverb

from one end or side to the other;

jealousy pierced her through

Throughadverb

from beginning to end;

read this book through

Throughadverb

over the whole distance;

this bus goes through to New York

Throughadverb

to completion;

think this through very carefully!

Throughadverb

in diameter;

this cylinder measures 15 inches through

Throughadverb

throughout the entire extent;

got soaked through in the rainI'm frozen througha letter shot through with the writer's personalityknew him through and throughboards rotten through and through