harness
Americannoun
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the combination of straps, bands, and other parts forming the working gear of a draft animal.
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(on a loom) the frame containing heddles through which the warp is drawn and which, in combination with another such frame or other frames, forms the shed and determines the woven pattern.
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the equipment, as straps, bolts, or gears, by which a large bell is mounted and rung.
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Electricity. wiring harness.
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armor for persons or horses.
verb (used with object)
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to put a harness on (a horse, donkey, dog, etc.); attach by a harness, as to a vehicle.
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to bring under conditions for effective use; gain control over for a particular end.
to harness water power; to harness the energy of the sun.
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Archaic. to array in armor or equipments of war.
idioms
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in double harness. double harness.
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in harness,
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engaged in one's usual routine of work.
After his illness he longed to get back in harness.
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together as cooperating partners or equals.
Joe and I worked in harness on our last job.
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noun
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an arrangement of leather straps buckled or looped together, fitted to a draught animal in order that the animal can be attached to and pull a cart
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something resembling this, esp for attaching something to the body
a parachute harness
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mountaineering an arrangement of webbing straps that enables a climber to attach himself to the rope so that the impact of a fall is minimized
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the total system of electrical leads for a vehicle or aircraft
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weaving the part of a loom that raises and lowers the warp threads, creating the shed
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archaic armour collectively
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at one's routine work
verb
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to put harness on (a horse)
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(usually foll by to) to attach (a draught animal) by means of harness to (a cart, etc)
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to control so as to employ the energy or potential power of
to harness the atom
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to equip or clothe with armour
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of harness
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English harneis, herneis, from Old French herneis “baggage, equipment,” from Old Norse hernest (unrecorded) “provisions for an armed force,” equivalent to herr “army” ( cf. harbor, herald) + nest “provisions for a journey”
Explanation
A harness is a set of straps that are put on a horse so it can be hitched to a wagon or a carriage. The harness distributes the effort across larger sections of the horse's body. Other animals and people can also wear harnesses. Your dog might have a harness for walking, with the leash attaching to the harness and not the collar, keeping the dog from choking itself when it pulls. People wear harnesses for safety, when climbing trees or bungee jumping, for example. As a verb, harness means to control or direct as if with a harness for a specific purpose, the way solar power harnesses the power of the sun.
Vocabulary lists containing harness
"Harrison Bergeron"
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Where the Red Fern Grows
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Donald Trump Inauguration Address- January 20, 2017
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That’s exactly what campaigns are hoping to harness when they partner with influencers, she said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2026
When my childhood dog was in her last years, we had to buy a harness to help her stand and extra beds because she could no longer climb on the couch.
From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026
Even so, the findings open the door to new therapies that aim to harness astrocytes as a natural defense against neurodegenerative disease.
From Science Daily • May 2, 2026
The billionaire investor sought to harness his social-media following to attract everyday investors.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026
He sought to provide authentic ways for children to express themselves and developed scaffolding to better harness and understand children’s musical development.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
