rein

American  

[reyn] / reɪn /

noun

1. Often a leather strap, fastened to each end of the bit of a bridle, by which the rider or driver controls a horse or other animal by pulling so as to exert pressure on the bit.

2. any of certain other straps or thongs forming part of a harness, as a checkrein.

3. any means of curbing, controlling, or directing; check; restraint.

4. reins, the controlling or directing power.

   the reins of government.

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verb (used with object)

1. to check or guide (a horse or other animal) by exerting pressure on a bridle bit by means of the reins.

2. to curb; restrain; control.

   Synonyms:

   limit, bridle, check

verb (used without object)

1. to obey the reins.

   a horse that reins well.

2. to rein a horse or other animal.

idioms

1. give rein to, to give complete freedom to; indulge freely: Also give free rein to, give full rein to.

   to give rein to one's imagination.

2. draw rein, to curtail one's speed or progress; halt.

   The rider saw the snake and drew rein sharply.

rein British  

/ reɪn /

noun

1. (often plural) one of a pair of long straps, usually connected together and made of leather, used to control a horse, running from the side of the bit or the headstall to the hand of the rider, driver, or trainer

2. a similar device used to control a very young child

3. any form or means of control

   to take up the reins of government

4. the direction in which a rider turns (in phrases such as on a left ( or right ) rein , change the rein )

5. something that restrains, controls, or guides

6. to allow considerable freedom; remove restraints

7. to control carefully; limit

   we have to keep a tight rein on expenditure

8. with the reins held loosely so that the horse is relatively unconstrained

9. to take up the reins so that the distance between hand and bit is lessened, in order that the horse may be more collected

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verb

1. (tr) to check, restrain, hold back, or halt with or as if with reins

2. to control or guide (a horse) with a rein or reins

   they reined left

rein More Idioms  

1. see draw in the reins; free hand (rein) tight rein on.

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Other Word Forms

• reinless adjective
• unreined adjective

Etymology

Origin of rein

1300–50; (noun) Middle English rene, reine, raine < Old French re ( s ) ne < Vulgar Latin *retina, noun derivative of Latin retinēre to hold back, retain; (v.) Middle English rainen, reinen, derivative of the noun

Example Sentences

“One of the things I knew going into the project is that we weren’t going to have free rein access to them at every minute, every second of their time in Los Angeles,” he said.

From Salon

This year, investors are fleeing private credit lenders, and CNBC, citing sources, reported that JPMorgan was reining in lending External link in the sector.

From Barron's

Letting AI complete tasks for you often means giving it free rein over your data.

From The Wall Street Journal

It is a dilemma facing many central banks: Surging oil prices threaten economic growth and corporate earnings, backing the case for looser policy, while also posing inflationary risk, which argues for keeping the reins tight.

From The Wall Street Journal

That new era also included a goodbye to Bob Iger, who handed over the reins Wednesday and now moves into a senior advisory role for the rest of the year before his planned retirement.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• curb
• repress
• restrict
• suppress