noun
Uncommon
horseshoe
HAWS-shoo
Horseshoe (noun) means a U-shaped metal shoe nailed to a horse's hoof for protection. Example: “The blacksmith fitted a fresh horseshoe on the mare.”
noun
1
A U-shaped metal shoe nailed to a horse's hoof for protection.
"The blacksmith fitted a fresh horseshoe on the mare."
2
Something shaped like this U, or one used as a good-luck charm.
"They hung an old horseshoe over the front door for luck."
"The road curved into a tight horseshoe bend."
How to use horseshoe
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA U-shaped metal shoe for horses, or anything shaped like one, often linked with good luck.
Common pairings
horseshoe bend
lucky horseshoe
throw a horseshoe
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Word forms
- Plural
- horseshoes
- Third person singular
- horseshoes
- Past tense
- horseshoed, horseshod
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The blacksmith fitted a fresh _____ on the mare.
Etymology
A straightforward compound of horse and shoe, going back to Middle English horsscho.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for horseshoe
See all rhymes for horseshoe →Frequently asked questions
What does “horseshoe” mean?
The word “horseshoe” means a U-shaped metal shoe nailed to a horse's hoof for protection. In plain terms, a U-shaped metal shoe for horses, or anything shaped like one, often linked with good luck.
How do you pronounce “horseshoe”?
“Horseshoe” is pronounced HAWS-shoo (/ˈhɔːɹs.ʃuː/ in IPA).
How do you use “horseshoe” in a sentence?
Here is “horseshoe” used in a sentence: “The blacksmith fitted a fresh horseshoe on the mare.”
What part of speech is “horseshoe”?
“Horseshoe” is a noun.
Where does the word “horseshoe” come from?
The word “horseshoe” comes from Middle English. A straightforward compound of horse and shoe, going back to Middle English horsscho.
Is “horseshoe” a common word?
“Horseshoe” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “horseshoe” have?
“Horseshoe” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a U-shaped metal shoe nailed to a horse's hoof for protection.
