shoe

Something you wear on your foot, usually with a firm bottom and a shaped upper part.

• My shoes are wet.
• She bought a new pair of shoes.
• Where did you leave your other shoe?

Common phrases: a leather shoe, shoe size, a running shoe, a black shoe

A curved metal piece fixed under a horse’s foot to protect it.

• The horse lost a shoe.
• The farrier fitted a new shoe to the hoof.
• Check the shoes before riding over rocky ground.

Similar words: horseshoe

Common phrases: horse shoe, a loose shoe

To attach protective metal pieces to a horse’s feet, or put footwear on another person’s feet.

• He knows how to shoe horses.
• The farrier shod our pony yesterday.
• How often should we shoe this horse?

How to use it: shoe something with something (The farrier shod the pony with lightweight metal shoes.)

Common phrases: shoe a horse, shoe a pony

To put footwear on your own feet; usually used as “shod” to describe what someone wears.

• He was shod in heavy boots.
• The children were lightly shod for the long walk.
• She shod herself in sturdy leather sandals.

How to use it: be shod in something (She was shod in soft leather boots.)

Common phrases: shoe oneself, shoe oneself properly

To fit a protective piece to something so that use does not damage it.

• We need to shoe this cane.
• He shod the pole with a metal cap.
• The workshop shoes wooden supports to protect their ends.

How to use it: shoe something with something (They shod the wooden pole with iron to prevent wear.)

Common phrases: shoe a cane, shoe with iron

To cover an object with a layer of material that protects it.

• They shod the tool in metal.
• The craftsman shoes each wooden handle with brass.
• The object had been shod in a thin protective layer.

How to use it: shoe something with something (The craftsman shod the handle with silver.)

Similar words: cover, coat, sheathe

Common phrases: shoe with silver, shoe with metal