2 N‑UNCOUNT When negotiation or bargaining is forceful and shows clever and careful judgment, you can describe it as horse-trading . [AM ]
horse|whip /hɔː r s h w I p/ (horsewhips , horsewhipping , horsewhipped ) also horse-whip
1 N‑COUNT A horsewhip is a long, thin piece of leather on the end of a short, stiff handle. It is used to train and control horses.
2 VERB If someone horsewhips an animal or a person, they hit them several times with a horsewhip in order to hurt or punish them. □ [V n] These young louts deserve to be horse-whipped.
horse|woman /hɔː r swʊmən/ (horsewomen ) N‑COUNT A horsewoman is a woman who is riding a horse, or who rides horses well. □ She developed into an excellent horsewoman.
horsey /hɔː r si/ also horsy
1 ADJ Someone who is horsey likes horses a lot and spends a lot of time with them. [INFORMAL ] □ …a very horsey family.
2 ADJ If you describe a woman as horsey , you are saying in a rather rude way that her face reminds you of a horse, for example because it is long and thin. [DISAPPROVAL ]
hor|ti|cul|tur|al /hɔː r t I kʌ ltʃər ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Horticultural means concerned with horticulture. □ …Monkton horticultural show.
hor|ti|cul|tur|al|ist /hɔː r t I kʌ ltʃərəl I st/ (horticulturalists ) N‑COUNT A horticulturalist is a person who grows flowers, fruit, and vegetables, especially as their job.
hor|ti|cul|ture /hɔː r t I kʌltʃə r / N‑UNCOUNT Horticulture is the study and practice of growing plants.
hose /hoʊ z/ (hoses , hosing , hosed )
1 N‑COUNT A hose is a long, flexible pipe made of rubber or plastic. Water is directed through a hose in order to do things such as put out fires, clean cars, or water gardens. □ You've left the garden hose on.
2 N‑COUNT A hose is a pipe made of rubber or plastic, along which a liquid or gas flows, for example from one part of an engine to another. □ Water in the engine compartment is sucked away by a hose.
3 VERB If you hose something, you wash or water it using a hose. □ [V n] We wash our cars and hose our gardens without even thinking of the water that uses. [Also V ]
▸ hose down PHRASAL VERB When you hose something or someone down , you clean them using a hose. □ [V P n] In one driveway a chauffeur wearing rubber boots was hosing down a limousine. □ [V n P ] When the children come in covered in sand you can just hose them down.
hose|pipe /hoʊ zpa I p/ (hosepipes ) N‑COUNT A hosepipe is a hose that people use to water their gardens or wash their cars. [mainly BRIT ]
ho|siery /hoʊ ziəri, [AM ] -ʒəri/ N‑UNCOUNT You use hosiery to refer to tights, stockings, and socks, especially when they are on sale in shops. [FORMAL ]
hos|pice /hɒ sp I s/ (hospices ) N‑COUNT A hospice is a special hospital for people who are dying, where their practical and emotional needs are dealt with as well as their medical needs.
hos|pi|table /hɒsp I təb ə l, hɒ sp I t-/
1 ADJ A hospitable person is friendly, generous, and welcoming to guests or people they have just met. □ The locals are hospitable and welcoming.
2 ADJ A hospitable climate or environment is one that encourages the existence or development of particular people or things. □ Even in summer this place did not look exactly hospitable.
hos|pi|tal ◆◆◆ /hɒ sp I t ə l/ (hospitals ) N‑VAR A hospital is a place where people who are ill are looked after by nurses and doctors. □ …a children's hospital with 120 beds. □ A couple of weeks later my mother went into hospital.
hos|pi|tal|ity /hɒ sp I tæ l I ti/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Hospitality is friendly, welcoming behaviour towards guests or people you have just met. □ [+ of ] Every visitor to Georgia is overwhelmed by the kindness, charm and hospitality of the people.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Hospitality is the food, drink, and other privileges which some companies provide for their visitors or clients at major sporting or other public events. □ …corporate hospitality tents.
hos|pi|tal|ize /hɒ sp I təla I z/ (hospitalizes , hospitalizing , hospitalized ) in BRIT, also use hospitalise VERB [usu passive] If someone is hospitalized , they are sent or admitted to hospital. □ [be V -ed] Most people do not have to be hospitalized for asthma or pneumonia. ● hos|pi|tali|za|tion /hɒ sp I təla I ze I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ Occasionally hospitalization is required to combat dehydration.
host ◆◆◆ /hoʊ st/ (hosts , hosting , hosted )
1 N‑COUNT The host at a party is the person who has invited the guests and provides the food, drink, or entertainment. □ Apart from my host, I didn't know a single person there.
2 VERB If someone hosts a party, dinner, or other function, they have invited the guests and provide the food, drink, or entertainment. □ [V n] Tonight she hosts a ball for 300 guests.
3 N‑COUNT [oft N n] A country, city, or organization that is the host of an event provides the facilities for that event to take place. □ [+ of ] …the host of the World Cup.
4 VERB If a country, city, or organization hosts an event, they provide the facilities for the event to take place. □ [V n] Cannes hosts the annual film festival.
5 PHRASE If a person or country plays host to an event or an important visitor, they host the event or the visit. □ The Prime Minister played host to the US President.