From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishtroughtrough /trɒf $ trɒːf/ noun [countable] 1 containerTA a long narrow open container that holds water or food for animals a horse trough2 low pointPE a short period of low activity, low prices etc OPP peaktrough of The graph showed peaks and troughs of activity.3 wavesDN the hollow area between two waves4 weather technicalHEM a long area of fairly low pressure between two areas of high pressure5 → have your nose/snout in the trough
Examples from the Corpus
trough• The field was a marsh, the track a trough.• The allocation of labour to activities can be plotted as a histogram which will invariably show peaks and troughs.• the peaks and troughs of economic cycles• Then suddenly he thrust his head between his owner's legs and hoisted him into the trough with a resounding splash!• About half a mile upstream the trough was traversed by the Purton breakwater.• Scattered here and there are bathtubs, taking on new lives as water troughs.• In a wave trough I caught a glimpse of a coral head to port: a little too close for comfort.• There was a lot of gravel to walk across with troughs and wheelbarrows with snowdrops and crocuses in.From Longman Business Dictionarytroughtrough /trɒftrɒːf/ noun [countable]FINANCEECONOMICS the lowest point in a series of prices, values etcthe peaks and troughs of investing in stocks and sharesWhen would the nation come out of its economic trough? —trough verb [intransitive]This is the biggest fall in economic activity since the recession troughed five years ago.Origin trough Old English trog 