Illustration of hoof
- 1 2 3 4 parts of wall
- 1 toe
- 2 side walls
- 3 quarters
- 4 buttresses
- 5 bulbs
- 6 sole
- 7 frog
1
: a curved covering of horn that protects the front of or encloses the ends of the digits of an ungulate mammal and that corresponds to a nail or claw
2
: a hoofed foot especially of a horse
Examples of hoof in a Sentence
Verb
The cast was hoofing on the stage.
Recent Examples on the Web
John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2025
Or Nate the hoof guy, who cleans the hooves of cows and horses.
—Sonaiya Kelley, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2025
Bethy Squires, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025
With support from midfielders, Villa were comfortable playing in tight areas, often electing to make the extra pass rather than hoof the ball upfield.
—Mark Carey, The Athletic, 12 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hoof
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Noun
But the number doing truly innovative things are fewer than the two toes of a lamb’s hoof.
—John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2025
Or Nate the hoof guy, who cleans the hooves of cows and horses.
—Sonaiya Kelley, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2025
Verb
Not since The Rosie O’Donnell Show have we been so frequently blessed with hoofers hoofing about in the ol’ hoof house.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025
With support from midfielders, Villa were comfortable playing in tight areas, often electing to make the extra pass rather than hoof the ball upfield.
—Mark Carey, The Athletic, 12 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hoof
Cite this Entry
“Hoof.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hoof. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
plural hooves
ˈhu̇vz 
ˈhüvz
or hoofs
1
: a covering of horn that protects the front of or encloses the ends of the toes of some mammals (as horses, oxen, and pigs) and that corresponds to a nail or claw
2
: a hoofed foot especially of a horse
hoofed
adjective
ˈhu̇ft
ˈhüft
ˈhu̇vd
ˈhüvd
hoof
2 of 2 verb1
: to walk especially with haste
hoofed it to class
2
: to dance especially as a performer
watched the cast hoofing on the stage
hoofer
noun
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