ho

[ hoh ]

interjection

(used as a call to attract attention, sometimes specially used after a word denoting a destination): Westward ho! Land ho!
(used as an exclamation of surprise or delight.)

Origin of ho

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

Other definitions for ho (2 of 7)

ho²

[ hoh ]

interjection

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

Origin of ho

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

Other definitions for ho (3 of 7)

ho³

or hoe

[ hoh ]

noun,plural hos, hoes, ho's.Slang: Disparaging and Offensive.

a sexually promiscuous woman.
a prostitute; whore.

a woman.

Origin of ho

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

Other definitions for Ho (4 of 7)

Symbol, Chemistry.

holmium.

Other definitions for HO (5 of 7)

[ hoh ]

noun

(in police use) habitual offender.

Other definitions for ho. (6 of 7)

ho.

abbreviation

house.

Other definitions for H.O. (7 of 7)

H.O.

abbreviation

Head Office; Home Office.

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

How to use ho in a sentence

Solution of caustic soda of 120 grammes Na H O, in a litre; 3.
Schenk's Theory: The Determination of Sex | Samuel Leopold Schenk
But the freckles in line across the brownness of his face spelled h-o-n-e-s-t-y.
Judith Lynn | Annie Hamilton Donnell
Directly we got him safe into the nursery, H. O. began to jump about and say, 'Now you're a prisoner really and truly!'
The Story of the Treasure Seekers | E. Nesbit
Because others have not entered into an agreement with you that h-o-r-s-e, spoken or written, shall represent that animal.
Lectures on Language | William S. Balch
The total depravity of the type-writing machine caused the mechanism to spell Montana in the letters I-d-a-h-o.
Appletons' Popular Science Monthly, April 1899 | Various

British Dictionary definitions for ho (1 of 5)

ho¹

/ (həʊ) /

interjection

Also: ho-ho an imitation or representation of the sound of a deep laugh
an exclamation used to attract attention, announce a destination, etc: what ho!; land ho!; westward ho!

Origin of ho

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

British Dictionary definitions for ho (2 of 5)

ho²

/ (həʊ) /

noun

US Black slang a derogatory term for a woman

Origin of ho

C20: from Black or Southern US pronunciation of whore

British Dictionary definitions for Ho (3 of 5)

the chemical symbol for

holmium

British Dictionary definitions for HO (4 of 5)

abbreviation for

head office
British government Home Office

British Dictionary definitions for ho. (5 of 5)

ho.

abbreviation for

house

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

Scientific definitions for Ho

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