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noun

hearse

hurs

Hearse (noun) means a vehicle specially built to carry a coffin to a funeral or burial. Example: “The hearse led the slow procession through town.”

noun
1
A vehicle specially built to carry a coffin to a funeral or burial.
"The hearse led the slow procession through town."

How to use hearse

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe car used to carry a coffin at a funeral.

Common pairings
funeral hearse black hearse

Word forms

hearsed past tense, hearses plural, hearses singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ led the slow procession through town.

Etymology

From Old French herce, originally a frame used to hold candles over a coffin, itself from a Latin word for a harrow — an odd path from farm tool to funeral vehicle.

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for hearse

See all rhymes for hearse →

Frequently asked questions

What does “hearse” mean?

The word “hearse” means a vehicle specially built to carry a coffin to a funeral or burial. In plain terms, the car used to carry a coffin at a funeral.

How do you pronounce “hearse”?

“Hearse” is pronounced hurs (/hɝs/ in IPA).

How do you use “hearse” in a sentence?

Here is “hearse” used in a sentence: “The hearse led the slow procession through town.”

What part of speech is “hearse”?

“Hearse” is a noun.

Where does the word “hearse” come from?

The word “hearse” comes from Latin. From Old French herce, originally a frame used to hold candles over a coffin, itself from a Latin word for a harrow — an odd path from farm tool to funeral vehicle.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial