horseshoe

noun

horse·​shoe ˈhȯrs-ˌshü 

ˈhȯrsh-

1

: a usually U-shaped band of iron fitted and nailed to the rim of a horse's hoof to protect it

2

: something (such as a valley) shaped like a horseshoe

3

horseshoes plural : a game like quoits played with horseshoes or with horseshoe-shaped pieces of metal

horseshoe transitive verb

horseshoer

ˈhȯrs-ˌshü-ər 

ˈhȯrsh-

noun

Examples of horseshoe in a Sentence

The lake was a horseshoe surrounded by tall pine trees.

Recent Examples on the Web

Among her impressive set designs were a mechanical golden horse, a red horseshoe and a convertible lowrider. —Marina Watts, People.com, 29 July 2025

The American champion is one of the most visible riders in the peloton thanks to his stars and stripes jersey, flowing hair, and horseshoe moustache — he was recognised with the Super Teammate award at the end of the race. —Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 28 July 2025

So the building is kind of built in a horseshoe, but on one side there’s a contiguous grandstand that starts in row one and goes all the way up to row 51. —Fortune Editors, Fortune, 23 July 2025

Playa Mar Chiquita’s striking horseshoe silhouette is shaped by two limestone outcroppings, which together create a natural swimming pool filled by water flowing in from the Atlantic. —Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 27 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing horseshoe

• horseshoe arch
• horseshoe crab

Rhymes for horseshoe

• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup
• bijou

Kids Definition

horseshoe

noun

horse·​shoe ˈhȯrs-ˌshü 

ˈhȯrsh-

1

: a usually U-shaped band of iron shaped and nailed to the rim of a horse's hoof

2

: something shaped like a horseshoe

3

plural : a game in which horseshoes are tossed at a stake in the ground

horseshoe verb

horseshoer noun