harness

[ hahr-nis ]

/ ˈhɑr nɪs /

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See synonyms for: harness / harnessed / harnesses / harnessing on Thesaurus.com

noun

the combination of straps, bands, and other parts forming the working gear of a draft animal.Compare yoke¹ (def. 1).

(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.

the equipment, as straps, bolts, or gears, by which a large bell is mounted and rung.

Electricity. wiring harness.

armor for persons or horses.

verb (used with object)

to put a harness on (a horse, donkey, dog, etc.); attach by a harness, as to a vehicle.

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.

Archaic. to array in armor or equipments of war.

OTHER WORDS FOR harness

7 control, manage, utilize, exploit.

See synonyms for harness on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms about harness

in double harness. double harness (def. 2).

in harness,

engaged in one's usual routine of work: After his illness he longed to get back in harness.
together as cooperating partners or equals: Joe and I worked in harness on our last job.

Origin of harness

1250–1300; Middle English harneis, herneis<Old French herneis baggage, equipment <Old Norse *hernest provisions for an armed force, equivalent to herr army (cf. harbor, herald) + nest provisions for a journey

OTHER WORDS FROM harness

har·ness·er, nounhar·ness·less, adjectivehar·ness·like, adjectivere·har·ness, verb (used with object)

well-harnessed, adjective

Words nearby harness

harmost, harmotome, harm's way, Harmsworth, Harnack, harness, harnessed antelope, harness eye, harness hitch, harness horse, harness race

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

How to use harness in a sentence

Around 2003, he drove over an hour west of his grandmother’s one-time nursing home to Hawkinsville, population 4,500, a quiet river town in rural central Georgia best known for its harness horse racing track and women’s state prison.
He Wanted to Fix Rural America’s Broken Nursing Homes. Now, Taxpayers May Be on the Hook for $76 Million.|by Max Blau for Georgia Health News|September 22, 2020|ProPublica
The minimalist shoulder harness gives me full mobility when I’m stand-up paddleboarding, but unlike some minimalist models, the foam padding spans the entire back of the vest, providing a cushion when I’m sitting in a fishing kayak.
The Gear That Lets Me Enjoy the Last Days of Summer|Graham Averill|September 15, 2020|Outside Online
Barve and his colleagues had fitted many of the woodpeckers in the area with tiny radio transmitters—which resemble a fanny pack held in place by a harness—to investigate their movements for another project.
Blood, death, and eye gouging: welcome to the world of acorn woodpeckers|Kate Baggaley|September 9, 2020|Popular-Science
A comfortable harnessYou can avoid potentially strangling your dog by buying a harness.
The right way to walk your dog|John Kennedy|August 26, 2020|Popular-Science

Mynchenberg, who has a master’s degree in human-canine life sciences from Bergin University of Canine Studies, says she likes harnesses with handles because they offer an easy way to grab and hold your pet.
The right way to walk your dog|John Kennedy|August 26, 2020|Popular-Science
The protests so far have relied on a small group of core organizing bodies to harness broad but diffuse support.
Eric Garner Protesters Have a Direct Line to City Hall|Jacob Siegel|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In 1870, the very Germanically-named August Ruengling fixed a harness for a circus rider and obtained free passes for his family.
We’re All Carnies Now: Why We Can’t Quit the Circus|Anthony Paletta|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In 1899, with a three hundred dollar investment, they opened a small saddlery and harness shop.
‘The Harness Maker’s Dream:’ The Unlikely Ranch King of Texas|Nick Kotz|September 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Whether or not guayusa is a product of selective breeding, the Kichwa have learned to harness its power.
Bye Bye Latté, Hello Guayusa: Why The Amazon Holds the Secret to a Cleaner, Healthier Caffeine|Brandon Presser|August 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
London may as well also require that cabbies master the art of saddling a horse and mending a harness.
As Europe Now Sees, Resisting Uber Is Futile|Jim Epstein|June 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In fact, except for Ramona's help, it would have been a question whether even Alessandro could have made Baba work in harness.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
An old horse, with traces hanging and harness a wreck, stands snorting beside the boy.
A Lost Hero|Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward and Herbert D. Ward
When the number was ended, Burd Alling removed his head-harness and gravely shook hands with Jessie.
The Campfire Girls of Roselawn|Margaret Penrose
She found Mr. Rushmere busy adjusting and sorting divers pieces of harness.
The World Before Them|Susanna Moodie
He died in harness, his valiant spirit shining undimmed till the moment it was quenched by death itself.
King Robert the Bruce|A. F. Murison

British Dictionary definitions for harness

harness

/ (ˈhɑːnɪs) /

noun

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

something resembling this, esp for attaching something to the bodya parachute harness

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

the total system of electrical leads for a vehicle or aircraft

weaving the part of a loom that raises and lowers the warp threads, creating the shed

archaic armour collectively

in harness at one's routine work

verb (tr)

to put harness on (a horse)

(usually foll by to) to attach (a draught animal) by means of harness to (a cart, etc)

to control so as to employ the energy or potential power ofto harness the atom

to equip or clothe with armour

Derived forms of harness

harnesser, nounharnessless, adjectiveharness-like, adjective

Word Origin for harness

C13: from Old French harneis baggage, probably from Old Norse hernest (unattested) provisions, from herr army + nest provisions

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 harness

harness

see die with one's boots on (in harness) in harness.

harness

OTHER WORDS FOR harness

Idioms about harness

Origin of harness

OTHER WORDS FROM harness

Words nearby harness

Words related to harness

How to use harness in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for harness

Derived forms of harness

Word Origin for harness

Other Idioms and Phrases with harness