shoe
SHOO
Shoe (noun) means an outer covering for the foot, usually with a sturdy sole, that stops short of the ankle. Example: “I can't find my left shoe, and the bus leaves in five minutes.”
noun
1
An outer covering for the foot, usually with a sturdy sole, that stops short of the ankle.
"I can't find my left shoe, and the bus leaves in five minutes."
"She kicked off her shoes at the door."
"He needed new running shoes before the marathon."
2
A curved metal plate nailed to a horse's hoof for protection.
"The horse limped because it had lost a shoe on the stony track."
"Each metal shoe is shaped by hand so that it fits the hoof."
"The farrier fitted a new shoe to the mare's front hoof."
verb
1
To fit someone or something with shoes, especially to fit a horse with horseshoes.
"It takes skill to shoe a nervous horse without getting kicked."
"She learned to shoe horses while working on a farm during the summer."
"The blacksmith shoed three horses that morning."
How to use shoe
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFootwear that covers the foot but not the ankle, or the horseshoe fitted to a horse's hoof.
Common pairings
a pair of shoes
shoe size
fill someone's shoes
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Word forms
- Plural
- shoes, shoon, shoen
- Third person singular
- shoes
- Past tense
- shod, shodden, shoed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I can't find my left _____, and the bus leaves in five minutes.
Etymology
From Old English sceoh, of uncertain deeper origin, possibly linked to a root meaning "to move quickly."
Related words
Rhymes for shoe
See all rhymes for shoe →Frequently asked questions
What does “shoe” mean?
The word “shoe” means an outer covering for the foot, usually with a sturdy sole, that stops short of the ankle. In plain terms, footwear that covers the foot but not the ankle, or the horseshoe fitted to a horse's hoof.
How do you pronounce “shoe”?
“Shoe” is pronounced SHOO (/ˈʃu/ in IPA).
How do you use “shoe” in a sentence?
Here is “shoe” used in a sentence: “She kicked off her shoes at the door.”
What is another word for “shoe”?
Words with a similar meaning to “shoe” include kick and calceate.
What part of speech is “shoe”?
Depending on how it is used, “shoe” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “shoe” come from?
The word “shoe” comes from Old English. From Old English sceoh, of uncertain deeper origin, possibly linked to a root meaning "to move quickly.".
Is “shoe” a common word?
“Shoe” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “shoe” have?
“Shoe” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an outer covering for the foot, usually with a sturdy sole, that stops short of the ankle.
What is the difference between a "shoe" and a "boot"?
A "shoe" is an outer covering for the foot that stops short of the ankle. A "boot" extends over the ankle and sometimes up the leg. The main distinction is height: shoes end below the ankle, boots rise above it.
What is the difference between a "shoe" and a "sneaker" or "trainer"?
A "sneaker" (US) or "trainer" (UK) is a specific type of shoe with a soft, flexible sole made for sport or casual wear. "Shoe" is the general term that covers all footwear ending below the ankle, including formal styles.
What is the difference between a "shoe" and a "horseshoe"?
In everyday use, "shoe" means footwear for a person. A "horseshoe" is a curved metal plate nailed to a horse's hoof to protect it. The word "shoe" can refer to the horse's version, but usually needs context or the fuller word "horseshoe."
