verb
till
To turn and loosen soil for planting.
The farmer tills the soil before planting the seeds.
Etymology
The older verb concerned productive work and cultivation. The modern farming sense specializes it to preparing soil for growing crops.
More examples
- They tilled the garden by hand.
- This machine tills narrow beds.
- Do not till wet soil.
Forms
till · tills · tilled · tilling
Similar words
- cultivate
- Broader; includes other work needed to grow crops.