ho

¹

[hoh]

interjection

1. (used as a call to attract attention, sometimes specially used after a word denoting a destination).

   Westward ho! Land ho!

2. (used as an exclamation of surprise or delight.)

ho

²

[hoh]

interjection

1. (used as a command to a horse to stop.)

ho

³

Or hoe

[hoh]

noun

Slang: Disparaging and Offensive.

plural

hos, hoes, ho's. 

1. a sexually promiscuous woman.

2. a prostitute; whore.

3. a woman.

Ho

⁴

Symbol, Chemistry.

1. holmium.

HO

⁵

[hoh]

noun

1. (in police use) habitual offender.

ho.

⁶

abbreviation

1. house.

H.O.

⁷

abbreviation

1. Head Office; Home Office.

HO

¹

abbreviation

1. head office

2. government Home Office

ho

²

/ həʊ /

interjection

1. Also: ho-ho. an imitation or representation of the sound of a deep laugh

2. an exclamation used to attract attention, announce a destination, etc

   what ho!

   land ho!

   westward ho!

Ho

³

symbol

1. holmium

ho

⁴

/ həʊ /

noun

1. slang:Black,  a derogatory term for a woman

ho.

⁵

abbreviation

1. house

Word History and Origins

Origin of ho¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; a natural exclamation

Origin of ho²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English ho, who, from Old French ho, and Old Norse hō; whoa

Origin of ho³

First recorded in 1965–70; dialectal or African American Vernacular English pronunciation of whore

Word History and Origins

Origin of ho¹

C13: of imitative origin; compare Old Norse hó, Old French ho! halt!

Origin of ho²

C20: from Black or Southern US pronunciation of _whore

Example Sentences

The project aims to promote medical tourism in Macau, create jobs and bring healthcare and leisure under one roof, said the resort chain's chief executive Lawrence Ho.

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The hospital project fits with Macau's economic diversification plans, said Mr Ho.

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The foreign office staffer, Ho Jen-chieh, was sentenced to eight years and two months in jail.

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“These women may be able to reap the benefits of intimacy, of romantic relationships, without the core that is traditionally tied to gender roles,” Ho told Slate.

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Ho, a researcher at Singapore Management University, says A.I. relationships aren’t necessarily revolutionary modes of romantic autonomy for women.

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When To Use

What does ho mean?

Not to be confused with hoe (the gardening tool), a ho is an offensive term for a sex worker or a promiscuous woman. Some people use the term to insult women in general while some women have reclaimed the term.What are other forms of ho?hoe