hoar

1 of 2

adjective

: hoary

hoar

2 of 2

noun

Examples of hoar in a Sentence

Adjective the hoar and crumbling stones of ruined temples Noun the hoar-covered meadow gleamed in the early-morning sun
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
During cold weather the moisture precipitates out of the air onto every branch and willow bush, coating them in a layer of hoar frost. Seth Adams, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 May 2023 Surface hoar is created when water vapor is deposited on the snow surface, like dew. Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2024 Surface hoar forms regularly in the Sierra, said Schwartz. Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2024 The hidden layer of fragile surface hoar, with facets playing a contributing role, is now the failure point for large and unpredictable slabs of snow. Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2024 There are many different kinds of frost: crystalline (hoar) frost, white frost, black frost, advection frost, and the frost that forms on glass windows, to name a few. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 8 Dec. 2023
Noun
But sometimes the crystals grow particularly large, forming hoar frost. Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 24 Jan. 2014 The hoar frost made the trees sparkle as though Earthquake Park were contained in a snow globe. Alli Harvey, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Jan. 2022 Furthermore, the clear conditions preceding the storm could have led to the formation of a layer of light, feathery frost, known as surface hoar. Douglas Preston, The New Yorker, 10 May 2021

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English hor, from Old English hār; akin to Old High German hēr hoary

Noun

Middle English hor hoariness, from hor, adjective

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1567, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hoar was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near hoar

Cite this Entry

“Hoar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hoar. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

hoar

1 of 2 adjective
ˈhō(ə)r How to pronounce hoar (audio)
ˈhȯ(ə)r
: hoary

hoar

2 of 2 noun
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