gallop

American  

[gal-uhp] / ˈgæl əp /

verb (used without object)

1. to ride a horse at a gallop; ride at full speed.

   They galloped off to meet their friends.

2. to run rapidly by leaps, as a horse; go at a gallop.

3. to go fast, race, or hurry, as a person or time.

   Synonyms:

   scoot, fly, speed, dash, rush, run

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verb (used with object)

1. to cause (a horse or other animal) to gallop.

noun

1. a fast gait of the horse or other quadruped in which, in the course of each stride, all four feet are off the ground at once.

2. a run or ride at this gait.

3. a rapid rate of going.

4. a period of going rapidly.

gallop British  

/ ˈɡæləp /

verb

1. (intr) (of a horse or other quadruped) to run fast with a two-beat stride in which all four legs are off the ground at once

2. to ride (a horse, etc) at a gallop

3. (intr) to move, read, talk, etc, rapidly; hurry

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noun

1. the fast two-beat gait of horses and other quadrupeds

2. an instance of galloping

Other Word Forms

• galloper noun
• outgallop verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of gallop

1375–1425; late Middle English galopen (v.) < Old French galoper < Frankish *wala hlaupan to run well ( well ¹, leap ) or, alternatively, verbal derivative of *walhlaup, equivalent to *wal battlefield (cognate with Old High German wal; Valkyrie ) + *hlaup run, course (derivative of the v.)

Example Sentences

He felt his heart gallop in his chest, like it was trying to escape from his body.

From Literature

Before he could move, a high neighing rang out, and down the hill galloped a horse with a horn of pure-bright silver.

From Literature

I pull another deep breath, trying to tame my galloping heartbeat.

From Literature

“I don’t know,” I say, lifting her on my back and galloping around the room.

From Literature

“This rhetoric helps keep the flames of the galloping bull market in precious metals firmly intact.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• amble
• dart
• dash
• hurry
• lope
• stride
• trot
• zoom