hoof

1 of 2

noun

plural hooves ˈhüvz How to pronounce hoof (audio) ˈhu̇vz How to pronounce hoof (audio) 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

Illustration of hoof

Illustration of hoof
  • 1 2 3 4 parts of wall
  • 1 toe
  • 2 side walls
  • 3 quarters
  • 4 buttresses
  • 5 bulbs
  • 6 sole
  • 7 frog

hoof

2 of 2

verb

hoofed; hoofing; hoofs

transitive verb

1
: to walk especially with haste
hoofed it to the lecture hall
2

intransitive verb

: to move on the feet
especially : dance
Phrases
on the hoof
of a meat animal : before butchering : living
90¢ a pound on the hoof

Examples of hoof in a Sentence

Verb The cast was hoofing on the stage.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
His head went up and down, the sound of his hooves like the Pony Express. Matthew Klam, The New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2024 And this season, a wonderfully-wacky boot has entered the chat for a possible new take-over: Meet the McQueen hoof boot. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2024
Verb
Teams hustle to overwhelm an opponent’s base before a rival group claims theirs; as the contestants hoof through dense foliage, a drone shot soars over to capture the frenetic scramble. Siren Goes Off, Vulture, 16 June 2023 The usefulness of it while hoofing away from predators (or toward food) may have driven natural selection, the researchers say. Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 31 May 2023 See all Example Sentences for hoof 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hoof.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1641, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hoof was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near hoof

Cite this Entry

“Hoof.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hoof. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

hoof

1 of 2 noun
plural hooves ˈhu̇vz How to pronounce hoof (audio)
ˈhüvz
or hoofs
1
: a covering of horn that protects the front of or encloses the ends of the toes of some mammals (as horses, oxen, and pigs) and that corresponds to a nail or claw
2
: a hoofed foot especially of a horse
hoofed
ˈhu̇ft
ˈhüft
ˈhu̇vd
ˈhüvd
adjective

hoof

2 of 2 verb
1
: to walk especially with haste
hoofed it to class
2
: to dance especially as a performer
watched the cast hoofing on the stage
hoofer noun

Medical Definition

hoof

noun
plural hooves ˈhüvz How to pronounce hoof (audio) ˈhu̇vz How to pronounce hoof (audio) 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

More from Merriam-Webster on hoof

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!