Illustration of trowel
- 1 gardener's
- 2 plasterer's
- 3 bricklayer's
trow·el
ˈtrau̇(-ə)l 
: any of various hand tools used to apply, spread, shape, or smooth loose or plastic material
also
: a scoop-shaped or flat-bladed garden tool for taking up and setting small plants
troweled or trowelled; troweling or trowelling
: to smooth, mix, or apply with or as if with a trowel
troweler
noun
Examples of trowel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mia Huelsbeck, People.com, 9 July 2025
Like mixing the wet and dry ingredients in pancake batter, add small amounts of water in increments and mix thoroughly with a trowel or your hands.
—Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 June 2025
Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Sep. 2024
Drywall will be thinner and more uniform than plaster, which is usually troweled right up to the electrical box.
—Timothy Dahl, Popular Mechanics, 21 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for trowel
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Noun
Included in the bundle is a hand trowel, cultivator tool, shears, a transplanter, and several other tools, each designed with an ergonomic handle and rust-resistant stainless steel.
—Mia Huelsbeck, People.com, 9 July 2025
Like mixing the wet and dry ingredients in pancake batter, add small amounts of water in increments and mix thoroughly with a trowel or your hands.
—Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 June 2025
Verb
Andrew’s bumbling nature is done no favors by the padded suits and troweled makeup that never really transform Sheen, but abet the actor’s semi-comic approach.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Sep. 2024
Drywall will be thinner and more uniform than plaster, which is usually troweled right up to the electrical box.
—Timothy Dahl, Popular Mechanics, 21 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for trowel
Cite this Entry
“Trowel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trowel. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
trowel
1 of 2 noun
trow·el
ˈtrau̇(-ə)l
1
: a small hand tool consisting of a flat blade with a handle used for spreading and smoothing mortar or plaster
2
: a small hand tool with a curved blade used by gardeners
trowel
2 of 2 verb
troweled or trowelled; troweling or trowelling
: to smooth, mix, or apply with a trowel
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