ass

[ as ]

noun

a long-eared, slow, patient, sure-footed domesticated mammal, Equus asinus, related to the horse, used chiefly as a beast of burden.
Also called wild ass . an African wild ass, kiang, onager, or any of their subspecies.

a stupid, foolish, or stubborn person.

Origin of ass

First recordedbefore 1000; Middle English asse, Old English assa, probably a pet name or diminutive form based on a Celtic form, e.g., Old Irish asan, Old Welsh asen, from Latin asinus; akin to Greek ónos “ass,” from a non-Indo-European language of Asia Minor, e.g., Sumerian anše “ass”

Other words from ass

ass·like, adjective

Words Nearby ass

Other definitions for ass (2 of 4)

ass²

[ as ]

nounSlang: Vulgar.

the buttocks.
the rectum.

sexual intercourse.

Origin of ass

First recorded in 1860–65; variant of arse, with loss of r before s, as in passel, cuss, etc.; see origin at arse

Also Chiefly British Slang: Vulgar, arse .

usage note For ass

See arse.

Other definitions for -ass (3 of 4)

-ass

a combining form of ass in the sense of “stupid person“ or “the buttocks,“ used in vulgar slang words as an intensifier or with disparaging intent: big-ass; stupid-ass.

Other definitions for ass. (4 of 4)

ass.

abbreviation

assistant.
association.

assorted.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ass in a sentence

Even “Torres-Ossoff” — used in perhaps 100 entries by dozens of entrants to mean “tore his ass off” — proved confusing for a Spanish-speaking friend who read “Torres” in the authentic Spanish with rolled R’s.
Style Conversational Week 1423: Unnatural acts | Pat Myers | February 11, 2021 | Washington Post
We forego beach vacations for ski passes, set ungodly alarm times, pull warm children from their covers, fight traffic for hours, schlep gear wearing painful boots, and freeze our asses off all day.
These New Skis Have Gone Too Far | Kimberly Beekman | February 4, 2021 | Outside Online
Putting these glasses on and taking them off is a pain in the ass.
Ombraz's Armless Sunglasses Are a Mixed Bag | Graham Averill | January 22, 2021 | Outside Online
A true bull would see his ass head and think, I can work with this.
The cloud of impeachment hangs over the markets—even Bitcoin is sinking | Bernhard Warner | January 11, 2021 | Fortune
Your rich ass spends all day thinking up new ways to lick the boots of a demigod while your organization withers.
2020 in Quotes: Anger, Apologies and Real Talk | Randy Dotinga | December 30, 2020 | Voice of San Diego

ass-kicking, bad guy-killing Carter is just a future spinster.
Marvel’s ‘Agent Carter’ Stomps on the Patriarchy | Melissa Leon | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
So just looking forward to taking our sweet ass time with this next one.
Deer Tick's John McCauley on Ten Years in Rock and Roll | James Joiner | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
The revelation that, at age 42, Ben Affleck has one hell of an ass.
Year of the Butt: How the Booty Changed the World in 2014 | Kevin Fallon | December 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
“The entertainers still entertain—and the people still have to get an ass-kicking to go out and vote,” Cosby said.
When Bill Cosby N-Bombed the Congressional Black Caucus | Asawin Suebsaeng | December 2, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Inside, sat at a man on all fours, one high-heeled shoe in his mouth, the other protruding from his ass.
Whip It: Secrets of a Dominatrix | Justin Jones | November 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel hath not known me, and my people hath not understood.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | Various
And thy oxen, and the ass colts that till the ground, shall eat mingled provender as it was winnowed in the floor.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | Various
Blessed are ye that sow upon all waters, sending thither the foot of the ox and the ass.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | Various
Think of Samson, who slew a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of an ass!
A Philosophical Dictionary, Volume 1 (of 10) | Franois-Marie Arouet (AKA Voltaire)
For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath given gifts to his lovers.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | Various

British Dictionary definitions for ass (1 of 2)

ass¹

/ (æs) /

noun

either of two perissodactyl mammals of the horse family (Equidae), Equus asinus (African wild ass) or E. hemionus (Asiatic wild ass). They are hardy and sure-footed, having longer ears than the horse: Related adjective: asinine
(not in technical use) the domesticated variety of the African wild ass; donkey

a foolish or ridiculously pompous person
not within an ass's roar of Irish informal not close to obtaining, winning, etc: she wasn't within an ass's roar of it

Origin of ass

Old English assa, probably from Old Irish asan, from Latin asinus; related to Greek onos ass

British Dictionary definitions for ass (2 of 2)

ass²

/ (æs) /

noun

mainly US and Canadian slang the buttocks
mainly US and Canadian slang the anus

mainly US and Canadian offensive, slang sexual intercourse or a woman considered sexually (esp in the phrase piece of ass)
cover one's ass slang, mainly US and Canadian to take such action as one considers necessary to avoid censure, ridicule, etc at a later time

Origin of ass

Old English ærs; see arse

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with ass

ass

In addition to the idiom beginning with ass

ass in a sling, have one's

also see:

break one's ass
chew out (one's ass off)
cover one's ass
drag one's ass
kick ass
kick in the pants (ass)
kiss ass
make a fool (an ass) of
pain in the ass
stick it (up one's ass)
you bet your ass

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