hoof

play

noun \ ˈhu̇f , ˈhüf \

Definition of hoof

plural hooves play \ˈhüvz, ˈhu̇vz\ also hoofs

1 :a curved covering of horn that protects the front of or encloses the ends of the digits of an ungulate mammal and that corresponds to a nail or claw

2 :a hoofed foot especially of a horse

— on the hoof

of a meat animal :before butchering :living

90¢ a pound on the hoof

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Recent Examples of hoof from the Web

If there are free places, there are certainly players who are already scraping their hooves and wanting to take these places.

— SI.com, "Bayern Munich Chief Confirms Manuel Neuer Will Captain the Club from 2017/18 and Beyond," 18 July 2017
Small hoof table; writing table, 19th-century; metal armchair, 19th-century; plaster torso and foot, 19th-century; French lamp—

— House Beautiful, "July/August 2017 Product Guide," 3 July 2017
The Mount St. Helens herd was battling hoof disease, which may have contributed to bigger losses.

— bob moen, The Seattle Times, "Harsh winter takes heavy toll on wildlife across West," 2 July 2017
Because dead skin and moisture are largely to blame for the development of foot odor, making sure your hooves are as well groomed as possible will go a long way in keeping things from stinking to high heaven this summer.

— jolie kerr, Esquire, "Don't Let Your Sweaty Feet Make Your Shoes Smell," 23 June 2017
The bucks spar with their hooves because their still-forming antlers are sensitive.

— Sun-Sentinel.com, "Boxing bucks caught on camera in Tennessee," 23 June 2017
Together with co-director and editor Steen Johannessen, Fayyad brings a rigorous sense of craft and shock-and-awe scale to the film's impressions of destruction, without impeding its anxious, on-the-hoof spontaneity.

— guy lodge, chicagotribune.com, "'Last Men in Aleppo' review: 'Last Men in Aleppo' review: Messy, harrowing account of living through war," 22 June 2017
The animal must have both a split hoof and chew its cud.

— troy l. smith, cleveland.com, "LeBron James' new gym workout is both strange and amazing," 22 June 2017
Giraffes and other hoof stock animals do not receive antibodies in utero as humans do, so the first 24 hours of life are essential for establishing these proteins.

— danielle ohl, baltimoresun.com, "Newborn giraffe at Maryland Zoo receives plasma transfusion after having trouble nursing," 20 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hoof.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of hoof

Origin and Etymology of hoof

Middle English, from Old English hōf; akin to Old High German huof hoof, Sanskrit śapha

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

hoof

verb

Definition of hoof

transitive verb

1 :to walk especially with haste

hoofed it to the lecture hall

2 :kick, trample

intransitive verb

:to move on the feet; especially :dance

See hoof defined for English-language learners

Examples of hoof in a Sentence

The cast was hoofing on the stage.

Recent Examples of hoof from the Web

Unicorn-themed products are utilizing every part of the animal, horn to hoof — even snot, puke and hair.

— erin jensen, USA TODAY, "We've officially reached peak unicorn trend. But is it here to stay?," 22 Aug. 2017
For a while in her 20s, Brie focused on animals of the balloon variety, working as a party clown while hoofing it on the audition circuit until her 2006 breakthrough on an episode of Hannah Montana.

— molly lambert, Marie Claire, "Hollywood's Favorite Underdog Comes Out on Top," 26 June 2017
After hoofing it along a scenic trail through the nature preserve, the daters arrive at the Tijuana River.

— michael benninger, Pacific San Diego Magazine, "Blind Date: Looking for love on the back of a horse," 31 May 2017
On Wednesday, Kay will hoof it up and down the steep terrain of the Poppy Hills Golf Club, intently following his son, Donald, who at 17 will never know the hardships of his father, but certainly understands where humble, hard work can get you.

— tod leonard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Family work ethic in DNA of Donald Kay's golf game," 30 May 2017
Second, and probably for that very reason, Paisley’s casting choices seem to have emphasized acting and singing chops over the ability to hoof on cue.

— hampton stevens, kansascity.com, "MET’s well-acted ‘9 to 5: The Musical’ feels like an homage to Dolly Parton," 15 May 2017
Another intervention in a Scarpa building, which became a word-of-mouth success among the art-world types hoofing across the stones of Venice, is already over.

— jason farago, New York Times, "Venice Notebook: Samplers From a Biennale Banquet," 14 May 2017
Diners who want free parking must hoof it from lots and structures across the street, or a block away behind Old Navy.

— nancy luna, Orange County Register, "Parking woes force downtown Brea restaurant to temporarily close while city builds $10.3 million parking structure," 1 Jan. 2017

First Known Use of hoof

1641

HOOF Defined for English Language Learners

hoof

play

noun

Definition of hoof for English Language Learners

: the hard covering on the foot of an animal (such as a horse or pig)

hoof

verb

Definition of hoof for English Language Learners

: to dance as a performer

HOOF Defined for Kids

hoof

play

noun \ ˈhu̇f , ˈhüf \

Definition of hoof for Students

plural hooves \ˈhu̇vz, ˈhüvz\ or hoofs

1 :a covering of tough material that protects the ends of the toes of some animals (as horses, oxen, or pigs)

2 :a foot (as of a horse) covered by a hoof

—

hoofed

\ˈhu̇ft, ˈhüft\ adjective

Medical Dictionary

hoof

play

noun \ ˈhu̇f , ˈhüf \

medical Definition of hoof

plural hooves play \ˈhüvz, ˈhu̇vz\ also hoofs

:a horny covering that protects the ends of the toes of numerous plant-eating 4-footed mammals (as horses or cattle); also :a hoofed foot

Illustration of hoof

Learn More about hoof

See words that rhyme with hoof Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hoof Spanish Central: Translation of hoof Nglish: Translation of hoof for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of hoof for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hoof

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HOOF Defined for English Language Learners

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hoof

Definition of hoof for English Language Learners

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Medical Dictionary

hoof

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