5 ADJ [ADJ n] A horror film or story is intended to be very frightening. □ …a psychological horror film.
6 ADJ [ADJ n] You can refer to an account of a very unpleasant experience or event as a horror story. □ …a horror story about lost luggage while flying. SYNONYMS horror NOUN 1
hatred: Her hatred of them would never lead her to murder.
disgust: He spoke of his disgust at the incident.
loathing: She looked at him with loathing.
aversion: Many people have a natural and emotional aversion to insects.
revulsion: …their revulsion at the act of desecration.
horror-stricken /hɒ rə r str I kən/ ADJ Horror-stricken means the same as horror-struck .
ho rror-struck ADJ If you describe someone as horror-struck or horror-stricken , you mean that they feel very great horror at something that has happened. □ 'What is the matter with Signora Anna?' he whispered, horror-struck at her vacant face.
hors d'oeu|vre /ɔː r dɜː r v/ (hors d'oeuvres ) N‑VAR Hors d'oeuvres are small amounts of food that are served before the main part of a meal.
horse ◆◆◇ /hɔː r s/ (horses )
1 N‑COUNT A horse is a large animal which people can ride. Some horses are used for pulling ploughs and carts. □ A small man on a grey horse had appeared.
2 N‑PLURAL [usu on the N ] When you talk about the horses , you mean horse races in which people bet money on the horse which they think will win. [INFORMAL ] □ He still likes to bet on the horses.
3 N‑COUNT A vaulting horse is a tall piece of gymnastics equipment for jumping over.
4 PHRASE If you hear something from the horse's mouth , you hear it from someone who knows that it is definitely true. □ He has got to hear it from the horse's mouth.
5 → see also clothes horse , dark horse , rocking horse , seahorse
horse|back /hɔː r sbæk/
1 N‑UNCOUNT [usu on/by N ] If you do something on horseback , you do it while riding a horse. □ In remote mountain areas, voters arrived on horseback.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A horseback ride is a ride on a horse. □ …a horseback ride into the mountains. ● ADV Horseback is also an adverb. □ Many people in this area ride horseback.
ho rse|back ri d|ing N‑UNCOUNT Horseback riding is the activity of riding a horse, especially for enjoyment or as a form of exercise. [AM ] in BRIT, use horse riding
horse|box /hɔː r sbɒks/ (horseboxes ) also horse box N‑COUNT A horsebox is a vehicle which is used to take horses from one place to another. [mainly BRIT ]
ho rse che st|nut (horse chestnuts ) also horse-chestnut
1 N‑VAR A horse chestnut is a large tree which has leaves with several pointed parts and shiny reddish-brown nuts called conkers that grow in cases with points on them.
2 N‑COUNT Horse chestnuts are the nuts of a horse chestnut tree. They are more commonly called conkers .
ho rse-drawn also horsedrawn ADJ [ADJ n] A horse-drawn carriage, cart, or other vehicle is one that is pulled by one or more horses. □ …a horse-drawn open-topped carriage.
horse|hair /hɔː r sheə r / N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Horsehair is hair from the tails or manes of horses and was used in the past to fill mattresses and furniture such as armchairs.
horse|man /hɔː r smən/ (horsemen ) N‑COUNT A horseman is a man who is riding a horse, or who rides horses well. □ Gerald was a fine horseman.
horse|man|ship /hɔː r smənʃ I p/ N‑UNCOUNT Horsemanship is the ability to ride horses well.
horse|play /hɔː r sple I / N‑UNCOUNT Horseplay is rough play in which people push and hit each other, or behave in a silly way. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
horse|power /hɔː r spaʊə r / N‑UNCOUNT Horsepower is a unit of power used for measuring how powerful an engine is. □ …a 300-horsepower engine.
ho rse rac|ing also horse-racing , horseracing N‑UNCOUNT Horse racing is a sport in which horses ridden by people called jockeys run in races, sometimes jumping over fences.
horse|radish /hɔː r sræd I ʃ/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Horseradish is a small white vegetable that is the root of a crop. It has a very strong sharp taste and is often made into a sauce.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Horseradish or horseradish sauce is a sauce made from horseradish. It is often eaten with roast beef.
ho rse rid|ing also horse-riding N‑UNCOUNT Horse riding is the activity of riding a horse, especially for enjoyment or as a form of exercise. [BRIT ] in AM, use horseback riding
horse|shoe /hɔː r sʃuː/ (horseshoes )
1 N‑COUNT A horseshoe is a piece of metal shaped like a U, which is fixed with nails to the bottom of a horse's foot in order to protect it.
2 N‑COUNT A horseshoe is an object in the shape of a horseshoe which is used as a symbol of good luck, especially at a wedding.
ho rse show (horse shows ) N‑COUNT A horse show is a sporting event in which people riding horses compete in order to demonstrate their skill and control.
ho rse-trading also horsetrading
1 N‑UNCOUNT If you describe discussions or negotiations as horse-trading , you disapprove of them because they are unofficial and involve compromises. [BRIT , mainly JOURNALISM , DISAPPROVAL ] □ Politics are notorious for murky deals and there could be weeks of intense horse-trading ahead.