trough

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trough / trôf/ • n. a long, narrow open container for animals to eat or drink out of: a water trough. ∎  a container of a similar shape used for a purpose such as growing plants or mixing chemicals. ∎  a channel used to convey a liquid. ∎  a long hollow in the earth's surface: a vast glacial trough. ∎  an elongated region of low atmospheric pressure. ∎  a hollow between two wave crests in the sea. ∎  a low level of economic activity. ∎  Math. a region around the minimum on a curve of variation of a quantity. ∎  a point of low achievement or satisfaction: learning a language is a series of peaks and troughs.

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