horse

1 of 3

noun

ˈhȯrs

plural horses also horse

Synonyms of horse next

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

lost a lot of money playing the horses

: a male horse

especially : stallion

: a recent or extinct animal (such as a zebra, ass, or onager) of the horse family

: jackstay

: a frame usually with legs used for supporting something (such as planks or staging) : sawhorse

c(1)

gymnastics : pommel horse

(2)

gymnastics : vaulting horse

horse plural : cavalry

geology : a mass of the same geologic character as the wall rock that occurs within a vein of useful mineral matter

: horsepower

a car with 275 horses

slang : heroin

: an athlete whose performance is consistently strong and reliable

a team with the horses to win the pennant

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

horseless

ˈhȯr-sləs

adjective

horselike

ˈhȯrs-ˌlīk

adjective

Illustration of horse

1 dock
2 croup
3 point of hip
4 loin
5 back
6 withers
7 mane
8 crest
9 poll
10 forelock
11 forehead
12 muzzle
13 cheek
14 throatlatch
15 neck
16 shoulder
17 chest
18 forearm
19 knee
20 cannon
21 fetlock
22 hoof
23 chestnut
24 elbow
25 barrel
26 flank
27 stifle
28 pastern
29 coronet
30 hock
31 gaskin
32 tail
33 thigh
34 buttock

horse

2 of 3

verb

horsed; horsing

transitive verb

: to provide with a horse (see horse sense 1a(1))

horsing a coach

a horsed vehicle

: to move by brute force

sweating gunners horsed their pieces into action—

Bruce Catton

intransitive verb

of a mare : to be in heat or estrus

horse

3 of 3

adjective

: of or relating to a horse (see horse sense 1a(1))

a horse farm

: hauled or powered by a horse

a horse barge

: large or coarse of its kind

: mounted on horses

horse guards

Phrases

from the horse's mouth

: from the original source

Examples of horse in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Noun

Throughout the minute spot, the dot became fire, a wheel, horses, crops, a ship and even a lightbulb. —

Justin Gest, Newsweek, 10 Feb. 2025 If anything, the finale is fun in a smashing-action-figures-together kind of way, with a desert firefight involving a horse, tank, and helicopter. —

Randall Colburn, EW.com, 10 Feb. 2025

Adjective

Also, in the case of multi-horse wagers, there can be a consolation payoff if nobody has a perfect ticket. —

Jason Frakes, The Courier-Journal, 24 Jan. 2023 While horse deaths nationwide have been on the decline -- from 790 racehorses in 2009 to 493 last year, according to the Jockey Club -- Santa Anita's numbers have fluctuated over the years. —

Eliott C. McLaughlin, CNN, 11 June 2019 See all Example Sentences for horse

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Verb, and Adjective

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

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

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

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of horse was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Phrases Containing horse

Cite this Entry

Style

“Horse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horse. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025.

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Kids Definition

horse

1 of 2 noun

ˈhȯ(ə)rs

plural horses also horse

: a large hoofed grazing domestic mammal that is used to carry or draw loads and for riding

: a male horse : stallion

: a frame that supports something (as wood while being cut)

: a piece of gymnasium equipment used for balancing and swinging movements or for vaulting exercises

horse plural : cavalry

horse adjective

horse

2 of 2 verb

horsed; horsing

: to provide with a horse

Medical Definition

horse

noun

ˈhȯ(ə)rs

plural horses also horse

: a large solid-hoofed herbivorous mammal of the genus Equus (E. caballus) domesticated since prehistoric times

Last Updated: 14 Feb 2025 - Updated example sentences

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horse

noun

Illustration of horse

verb

adjective

Synonyms

Examples of horse in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near horse

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition