–noun

1.	a large, solid-hoofed, herbivorous quadruped, Equus caballus, domesticated since prehistoric times, bred in a number of varieties, and used for carrying or pulling loads, for riding, and for racing.

2.	a fully mature male animal of this type; stallion.

3.

any of several odd-toed ungulates belonging to the family Equidae, including the horse, zebra, donkey, and ass, having a thick, flat coat with a narrow mane along the back of the neck and bearing the weight on only one functioning digit, the third, which is widened into a round or spade-shaped hoof.

4.	something on which a person rides, sits, or exercises, as if astride the back of such an animal: rocking horse.

5.	Also called trestle. a frame, block, etc., with legs, on which something is mounted or supported.

6.	Gymnastics. a. vaulting horse. b. pommel horse.

7.	Carpentry. carriage (def. 7).

8.	soldiers serving on horseback; cavalry: a thousand horse.

9.	Slang. a man; fellow.

10.	Often, horses. Informal. horsepower.

11.	horses, Slang. the power or capacity to accomplish something, as by having enough money, personnel, or expertise: Our small company doesn't have the horses to compete against a giant corporation.

12.	Chess Informal. a knight.

13.	Slang. a crib, translation, or other illicit aid to a student's recitation; trot; pony.

14.	Mining. a mass of rock enclosed within a lode or vein.

15.	Nautical. traveler (def. 6b).

16.	Shipbuilding. a mold of a curved frame, esp. one used when the complexity of the curves requires laying out at full size.

17.	Slang. heroin.

–verb (used with object)

18.	to provide with a horse or horses.

19.	to set on horseback.

20.	to set or carry on a person's back or on one's own back.

21.	Carpentry. to cut notches for steps into (a carriage beam).

22.	to move with great physical effort or force: It took three men to horse the trunk up the stairs.

23.	Slang. a. to make (a person) the target of boisterous jokes. b. to perform boisterously, as a part or a scene in a play.

24.	Nautical. a. to caulk (a vessel) with a hammer. b. to work or haze (a sailor) cruelly or unfairly.

25.	Archaic. to place (someone) on a person's back, in order to be flogged.

–verb (used without object)

26.	to mount or go on a horse.

27.	(of a mare) to be in heat.

28.	Vulgar. to have coitus.

–adjective

29.	of, for, or pertaining to a horse or horses: the horse family; a horse blanket.

30.	drawn or powered by a horse or horses.

31.	mounted or serving on horses: horse troops.

32.	unusually large.

—Verb phrase

33.	horse around, Slang. to fool around; indulge in horseplay.

—Idioms

34.	back the wrong horse, to be mistaken in judgment, esp. in backing a losing candidate.

35.	beat or flog a dead horse, to attempt to revive a discussion, topic, or idea that has waned, been exhausted, or proved fruitless.

36.	from the horse's mouth, Informal. on good authority; from the original or a trustworthy source: I have it straight from the horse's mouth that the boss is retiring.

37.	hold one's horses, Informal. to check one's impulsiveness; be patient or calm: Hold your horses! I'm almost ready.

38.	horse of another color, something entirely different. Also, horse of a different color.

39.	look a gift horse in the mouth, to be critical of a gift.

40.	To horse! Mount your horse! Ride!

–verb (used with object)

1.	to wager with (something or someone).

–verb (used without object)

2.	to make a wager: Do you want to bet?

–noun

3.	a pledge of a forfeit risked on some uncertain outcome; wager: Where do we place our bets?

4.	that which is pledged: a two-dollar bet.

5.	something that is bet on, as a competitor in a sporting event or a number in a lottery: That horse looks like a good bet.

6.	an act or instance of betting: It's a bet, then?

7.	a person, plan of action, etc., considered as being a good alternative; choice: Your best bet is to sell your stocks now.

—Idiom

8.	you bet! Informal. of course! surely!: You bet I'd like to be there!