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# fallow

adjective (fallow); noun (fallow, uncountable)

«fallow» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Fallow land is a field that is ploughed but left without crops for a season so the soil can rest and get healthy again. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fallow/#m1)
2. A fallow time is a quiet period when nothing much is happening or being produced. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fallow/#m2)
3. A fallow deer is a smallish deer, light brown with white spots in summer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fallow/#m3)

### In the lessons

In history and farming lessons it explains crop rotation, where fields take turns to rest. In stories it describes empty fields or quiet times. Phrases: «lie fallow», «leave a field fallow», «a fallow period», «fallow deer».

### Examples

- The farmer left the field fallow this year. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fallow/#x1)
- In the Middle Ages one field in three lay fallow. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fallow/#x2)
- Letting land lie fallow helps the soil recover. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fallow/#x3)
- The team had a fallow season and won nothing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fallow/#x4)
- We saw fallow deer in the park. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fallow/#x5)
- Fallow deer have white spots on their backs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fallow/#x6)
- My art ideas went through a fallow patch, then came back. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fallow/#x7)
- Weeds grew in the fallow field. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fallow/#x8)

### Note

Usually an adjective after «lie», «leave» or «be». Fallow deer is a fixed name; the plural is also «deer». Do not confuse with «follow» or «hollow».

## In Jewish tradition

Land left unplanted in the seventh year. The prophets use "break up your fallow ground" as a picture of making your heart ready to turn back to God.

**Interpretation.** This is the Sabbatical year (shemitah), when the land rests and the poor may eat what grows by itself. Tradition reads the prophets' words as a call to repent and soften the heart before sowing good deeds.

### Examples

- but the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of thy people may eat; and what they leave the beast of the field shall eat. (Torah EXO.23.11, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/fallow/#x1)
- For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem: Break up for you a fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. (Prophets JER.4.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/fallow/#x2)
- Sow to yourselves according to righteousness, reap according to mercy, break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, till He come and cause righteousness to rain upon you. (Prophets HOS.10.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/fallow/#x3)

### Note

Usually an adjective after «lie», «leave» or «be». Fallow deer is a fixed name; the plural is also «deer». Do not confuse with «follow» or «hollow».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «fallow» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fallow/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«fallow» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/fallow.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «fallow» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/fallow/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«fallow» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/fallow.html) on Mova free.