👞 A foot covering 🐎 A hoof plate 🃏 A card holder 🐎 To fit horseshoes 🚗 A brake part

to shoe

5 5.5

To put a metal plate on a horse's hoof to protect it

verb
/ʃu/

: herrar

You fellers know where I can find a man to shoe my horse?
shoe horses

Examples

We no longer need to teach students blacksmithing to shoe a horse when the automobile is today's mode of transportation.

Academic text (1995)
He learned to shoe horses at a young age, working with his father in the stable.
Two hours to shoe a horse.

Scaramouche (1952)
I was just shoeing a horse for your trip tomorrow.

Elvira's Haunted Hills (2002)
Mike was outside the barn shoeing a big bay horse.

Fiction book (1993)
Indians don't shoe their horses.

Fiction book (1994)
Elder was shoeing a colt that was nervous and was giving him trouble.

Fiction book (1992)
Not many people make money shoeing horses anymore - that's no reason to ban the motor car, is it?

Blog text (29)
"However, I've gotten quite adept at shoeing horses and fixing wagons."

Back to the Future Part III (1990)
Every spring, the veterinarian comes to shoe our horses and check their health.

Idioms

the shoe is on the other foot

Informal

2 7.5

A situation that has changed so the other person has the advantage

if the shoe fits, wear it

Informal

8.7

Accept a criticism if it applies to you

to put the shoe on the other foot

7.5

Imagine being in the other person's place to understand them better

pebble in someone's shoe

Informal

7.0

A small problem that keeps annoying you

Compounds

shoe store

30 1.0

A shop that sells shoes

tennis shoe

27 1.0

A light casual shoe with a rubber sole for sports and everyday wear

running shoe

22 2.5

A light, comfortable shoe for running that supports and cushions the foot

dancing shoe

8 2.7

A shoe made for dancing that helps you move smoothly and gives support to your foot

bowling shoe

5 2.8

A shoe with a smooth sole worn for bowling to protect the lane and help you slide

high-heeled shoe

4 2.7

A shoe with a high heel that makes the heel higher than the toes

shoe polish

4 2.0

A wax or cream you put on shoes to make them shine and protect them

walking shoe

4 1.4

A light comfortable shoe that supports and cushions your feet during long walks

baby shoe

3 1.0

A small soft shoe for a baby that lets the feet move

gym shoe

3 1.7

A light shoe with a flexible rubber sole for sports or exercise

wooden shoe

3 5.3

A shoe made from one piece of wood worn in some European countries

shoe shop

2 1.0

A place where people buy shoes like trainers and boots

designer shoe

2 3.5

A shoe made by a famous fashion brand that is usually expensive and stylish

saddle shoe

2 5.5

A low shoe with a dark band across the middle

work shoe

2 2.7

A strong shoe that protects your feet during hard work

shoe leather

1 2.1

Skin from an animal that is made into material for shoes

white-shoe

1 9.7

A company or law firm connected to rich, conservative people from old families

shoe bomb

Offensive

1 7.9

An explosive hidden inside a shoe that someone can make explode secretly

brake shoe

Specialized

1 4.8

A curved metal block inside a wheel that presses a drum to slow its spin

clown shoe

1 4.6

A very large shoe worn by clowns to look funny

shoe industry

1 2.5

A group of businesses that make and sell shoes

soft-shoe

1 7.0

A style of dance with smooth, light steps done while wearing soft, quiet shoes

congress shoe

Archaic

8.2

An ankle-high shoe with elastic sides that you slip on

croc shoe

2.3

A light, comfortable shoe made of soft plastic with holes that let air reach your feet

footless shoe

6.8

A covering for the foot that leaves parts exposed, like a sandal

jodhpur shoe

9.2

A short leather boot for riding that fastens with an ankle strap and buckle

plompy shoe

Informal

9.1

A shoe that looks large, heavy, and clumsy

shoe black

9.9

A large shrub or small tree with big red flowers

shoe collar

Specialized

3.9

A padded edge at the shoe opening that fits around the ankle

shoe repairing

2.6

Work of fixing shoes so they can be worn again

shoe-leather effort

7.4

Hard, persistent work that involves walking, like going door to door

shoe-leather tactic

7.1

A way of working that uses travel and meeting people in person

shoe-shop

1.0

A place where people buy shoes

soft-shoe dancing

6.6

A smooth, graceful tap dance done in shoes with soft soles

soft-shoe shuffle

7.5

A smooth, gentle tap dance that uses soft-soled shoes

spiky shoe

4.4

A shoe with small pointed studs for better grip or style

Venus's shoe

9.9

An orchid with a pouch-shaped flower like a slipper

Surface Forms

shoe infinitive

shoed past

shoed past participle

shoeing present participle

shoes third person singular

Etymology

To shoe (verb) comes from the noun and simply means 'to put shoes on' a foot or hoof, which is why people say a horse was 'shod' after its shoes were fitted.