rodeo

American  

[roh-dee-oh, roh-dey-oh] / ˈroʊ diˌoʊ, roʊˈdeɪ oʊ /

noun

plural

rodeos

1. a public exhibition of cowboy skills, as bronco riding and calf roping.

2. a roundup of cattle.

3. Informal. any contest offering prizes in various events.

   a bicycle rodeo for kids under twelve.

4. (initial capital letter, italics) a ballet (1942) choreographed by Agnes de Mille, with musical score by Aaron Copland.

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verb (used without object)

rodeoed, rodeoing

1. to participate or compete in a rodeo or rodeos.

   He's been rodeoing since he was twelve.

rodeo British  

/ ˈrəʊdɪˌəʊ /

noun

1. a display of the skills of cowboys, including bareback riding, steer wrangling, etc

2. the rounding up of cattle for branding, counting, inspection, etc

3. an enclosure for cattle that have been rounded up

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Other Word Forms

• rodeoer noun

Etymology

Origin of rodeo

1825–35; < Spanish: cattle ring, derivative of rodear to go round, itself derivative of rueda wheel < Latin rota

Example Sentences

There was a rodeo announcer from Idaho, a Kansan whose family owns a dairy farm, and a retired government worker who auctioned spectrum for the Federal Communications Commission.

From The Wall Street Journal

Luckily for Golding, this isn’t his first playoff rodeo.

From The Wall Street Journal

It stands as a cultural landmark for Los Angeles’ Mexican community, hosting decades of concerts, rodeos and community celebrations.

From Los Angeles Times

Cleo Hearn, a cowboy who helped organize the event, said the children who showed up to watch the rodeo in New York pushed his career in a new direction.

From The Wall Street Journal

Horses could be put to work at pack stations, equine therapy and rodeo schools for kids, the group says.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• festival