What does mower mean?
A mower is a machine used to cut grass, most commonly a lawnmower with a rotating blade. The word is also used for a person whose job is to mow grass, though this sense is less frequent in everyday conversation. In British and American English, “mower” is the broad, standard term, while “lawnmower” may be preferred when the machine is specifically intended for a lawn. Mowers may be powered by electricity, petrol, or a battery, and can be pushed, driven, or ridden. The word is part of common expressions such as “push mower,” “ride-on mower,” and “mower blade.” Its straightforward meaning has made it a familiar term for both domestic lawn care and professional grounds maintenance.
nounA mower is a machine used to cut grass, especially a lawnmower with a rotating blade. By extension, it can refer to a person whose work is mowing grass.
- A machine or device for cutting grass or lawns.
- A person who mows grass, especially as part of a job.
"He used the mower to trim the lawn before the guests arrived."
"The electric mower stopped halfway across the lawn."
"The groundskeeper is the mower responsible for the entire property."
The regular plural is used for multiple machines or people.
"The garden centre sells electric mowers and lawn care equipment."
A mower turns a familiar weekend chore into a sleek machine with a spinning blade, but the word comes from the much older English verb “mow.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mower come from?
The noun mower is an agent noun formed from the English verb mow, meaning “to cut grass,” by adding the suffix -er. The verb descends from Old English mawan, an inherited Germanic word for cutting grass or hay. The noun developed in English to denote first a person who mowed and later, by extension, the machine used for the task.
Related word forms
How mower is actually used
“Mower” is the standard general term. “Lawnmower” is especially common for a machine designed to cut a lawn, while “grass cutter” can refer to either a machine or a person. In ordinary use, “mower” usually suggests a powered machine rather than a hand tool.