noun
Uncommon
hose
hohz
Hose (noun) means a flexible tube used to carry water or other liquid. Example: “He connected the hose to the tap to water the garden.”
noun
1
A flexible tube used to carry water or other liquid.
"He connected the hose to the tap to water the garden."
"Firefighters unrolled the hose and aimed it at the flames."
"The garden hose had a hole in it, so water sprayed everywhere."
2
Stockings or tights worn on the legs.
"She bought a new pair of hose to match her dress."
"My grandmother always wore hose with her best skirt to church."
"The shop sells hose in several colours, from plain black to pale tan."
verb
1
To spray water on something using a hose.
"He hosed down the muddy car in the driveway."
"On hot days the children hose each other down in the back garden."
"After the party, we hosed the patio until the stains were gone."
2
Informal: to cheat, trick, or badly disadvantage someone.
"The referee's bad call totally hosed our team."
"The dishonest seller hosed me by charging twice for the same repair."
"Don't sign that contract, or the company will hose you in the end."
How to use hose
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA flexible pipe for water, old-fashioned stockings, or (informally) to spray with a hose or to cheat someone.
Common pairings
garden hose
fire hose
hose down
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Word forms
- Plural
- hoses, hosen
- Third person singular
- hoses
- Past tense
- hosed
Fill the gap
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He connected the _____ to the tap to water the garden.
Etymology
From Old English hosa, "leggings," related to German Hose ("trousers") — the clothing sense came first, and the tube-for-liquid sense followed later by resemblance.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for hose
See all rhymes for hose →Frequently asked questions
What does “hose” mean?
The word “hose” means a flexible tube used to carry water or other liquid. In plain terms, a flexible pipe for water, old-fashioned stockings, or (informally) to spray with a hose or to cheat someone.
How do you pronounce “hose”?
“Hose” is pronounced hohz (/hoʊz/ in IPA).
How do you use “hose” in a sentence?
Here is “hose” used in a sentence: “He connected the hose to the tap to water the garden.”
What part of speech is “hose”?
Depending on how it is used, “hose” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “hose” come from?
The word “hose” comes from Old English. From Old English hosa, "leggings," related to German Hose ("trousers") — the clothing sense came first, and the tube-for-liquid sense followed later by resemblance.
Is “hose” a common word?
“Hose” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “hose” have?
“Hose” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a flexible tube used to carry water or other liquid.
What is the difference between a hose and a pipe?
A hose is a flexible tube used to carry water or other liquid, typically made of rubber or plastic and easy to move around, while a pipe is usually rigid and fixed in place, such as within plumbing or infrastructure.
What does hose mean when referring to clothing?
As clothing, hose refers to stockings or tights worn on the legs, a usage that is now somewhat old-fashioned outside of terms like 'pantyhose.'
What does it mean to 'hose' someone informally?
Used informally as a verb, to hose someone means to cheat, trick, or badly disadvantage them, as in 'that deal really hosed us.'
