Showing Results for "nosing"

See Also:

• present participle of nose.

nosing

American  

[noh-zing] / ˈnoʊ zɪŋ /

noun

Architecture.

1. a projecting edge, as the part of the tread of a step extending beyond the riser or a projecting part of a buttress.

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nosing British  

/ ˈnəʊzɪŋ /

noun

1. the edge of a step or stair tread that projects beyond the riser

2. a projecting edge of a moulding, esp one that is half-round

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Etymology

Origin of nosing

First recorded in 1765–75; nose + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Sonny, the star Portuguese water dog, went nosing around for a girlfriend when he was supposed to be attending to press obligations in the Long Island living room of his professional dog-show handler, Kimberly Calvacca.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 31, 2026

Bears, who can weigh up to half a ton and outrun humans, have been breaking into homes looking for food, nosing around schools and rampaging through supermarkets.

From Barron's • Dec. 26, 2025

“Waiting on the End of the World” is the standout of the three choices, nosing ahead because there’s a great guitar line that winds through and both grounds and elevates the song.

From Salon • Jul. 8, 2025

Then there are four slightly older puppies, pit bull mixes probably, whose eyes are still tightly shut, futilely nosing around the crate for their mother who never made it to the shelter.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 30, 2023

Claudio sat down heavily, hunched over, head hanging, staring at the ground, listening to the horses nosing apart the hay, listening also to the quiet country and western strains from Marvin LaBlue’s radio.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols