horseshoe

[hawrs-shoo, hawrsh-]

noun

1. a U -shaped metal plate, plain or with calks, nailed to a horse's hoof to protect it from being injured by hard or rough surfaces.

2. something U -shaped, as a valley, river bend, or other natural feature.

   We picnicked in the middle of a horseshoe of trees.

3. (used with a singular verb),  horseshoes, a game in which horseshoes or other U -shaped pieces of metal, plastic, etc., are tossed at an iron stake 30 or 40 feet (9 or 12 meters) away in order to encircle it or to come closer to it than one's opponent.

verb (used with object)

horseshoed, horseshoeing 

1. to put a horseshoe or horseshoes on.

adjective

1. having the shape of a horseshoe; U -shaped.

   a horseshoe bend in the river.

horseshoe

/ ˈhɔːsˌʃuː /

noun

1. a piece of iron shaped like a U with the ends curving inwards that is nailed to the underside of the hoof of a horse to protect the soft part of the foot from hard surfaces: commonly thought to be a token of good luck

2. an object of similar shape

verb

1. (tr) to fit with a horseshoe; shoe

Other Word Forms

• horseshoer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of horseshoe¹

1350–1400; Middle English. See horse, shoe

Example Sentences

The horseshoe element has been lost and, through that, has the advantage for the home team suffered?

From BBC

Beyoncé's rodeo rumbled into London, bringing with it every country cliché you could think of - cowboy hats, horseshoes, tassels and even a gold mechanical bull.

From BBC

She rode the horseshoe back to the main stage and did “Tyrant” astride a golden mechanical bull accompanied by two bull heads on swiveling robot arms.

From Los Angeles Times

She said sure, then gifted him a kegerator and a horseshoe beer tap for Father’s Day.

From Los Angeles Times

A burnt horseshoe found in the rubble is more promising as a probative clue.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• arc 
• arch 
• contour 
• loop 
• trajectory