harness

[ hahr-nis ]

/ ˈhɑr nɪs /

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.

SYNONYMS FOR harness

7 control, manage, utilize, exploit.

See synonyms for harness on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms for 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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for harness

The second idea was a longer harness that gave more support to the dog rather than just holding it up by its middle.
This new harness lets military dogs parachute safely and with style|Christina Mackenzie|January 4, 2021|Popular Science
Winter Resort operators are harnessing an unlikely source to power their operations: the sun.
Solar Powered Ski Lift|The Daily Beast|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The system could operate on a closed loop, recycling its water and harnessing the power of the sun.
Why Architects Dream Big—and Crazy|Nate Berg|August 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In effect, then, the resort is harnessing the power of the sun to turn seawater into a nourishing resource—for people and plants.
Sun+Water= High Tech Caribbean Luxury At The Cusinart Resort|The Daily Beast|June 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST

With evangelical zeal, he invites the applauding audience to join him in harnessing “the power of paper and glue.”
‘Inside Out: The People’s Art Project’ Review: Narcissists Writ Large|Jessica Dawson|May 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It is an engagement technique aimed at harnessing passive discontent into PR stunts that raise awareness.
Oh to be a Butterfly...||June 22, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The Hours obeyed Apollo's orders, and, harnessing the horses, led out the wondrous creatures and fastened them to the chariot.
Classic Myths|Mary Catherine Judd
But Automedon and Alcimus, harnessing the steeds, yoked them; and beautiful collars were upon them.
The Iliad of Homer (1873)|Homer
One day, when I was harnessing him, he spied a pig, and away he ran after it—cart and all.
The Nursery, February 1877, Vol. XXI. No. 2|Various
Well, I ought to know something about harnessing a mare by this time, I guess!
Bressant|Julian Hawthorne
In the yard of the inn his driver was harnessing the horses; Swithin went up to him.
Villa Rubein and Other Stories|John Galsworthy

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

Idioms and Phrases with harness

harness

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

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