horse

¹horse

noun \ˈhȯrs\

plural hors·es also horse

Definition of HORSE

1

a (1) : a large solid-hoofed herbivorous ungulate mammal (Equus caballus, family Equidae, the horse family) domesticated since prehistoric times and used as a beast of burden, a draft animal, or for riding (2) : racehorse <play the horses> b : a male horse; especially : stallion c : a recent or extinct animal (as a zebra, ass, or onager) of the horse family

2

a : jackstay b : a frame usually with legs used for supporting something (as planks or staging) c (1) : pommel horse (2) : vaulting horse

3

horse plural : cavalry

4

: a mass of the same geological character as the wall rock occurring within a vein

5

: horsepower

6

slang : heroin

7

: an athlete whose performance is consistently strong and reliable <a team with the horses to win the pennant>

8

or H-O-R-S-E : a game in which players take turns attempting to duplicate successful basketball shots, a letter of the word "horse" is awarded for each missed attempt, and the first player to receive all five letters loses

— horse·less \ˈhȯr-sləs\ adjective

— horse·like \ˈhȯrs-ˌlīk\ adjective

— from the horse's mouth

: from the original source

Examples of HORSE

1. a car with 275 horses
2. He lost a lot of money on the horses.

Illustration of HORSE

Origin of HORSE

Middle English hors, from Old English; akin to Old High German hros horse

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to HORSE

Synonyms: equine, nag, steed

Related Words: equid; colt, filly, foal, gelding, mare, stallion; bronco, mustang, pony; charger, courser, cow pony, cutting horse, galloper, hack, hackney, mount, packhorse, prancer, quarter horse, racehorse, saddle horse, trotter, warhorse, workhorse; bay, black, buckskin, chestnut, dun, palomino, pinto, roan, skewbald, sorrel; cob, dobbin, jade, plug, skate

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Other Equestrian Terms

canter, cantle, curry, farrier, hunter, paddock, router, skirt, tack