hare
nounverbverbadjectiveattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//hɛə//
- United Kingdom//hɛː//
- United States//hɛɚ//
- Australia//heː//
Any of several plant-eating mammals of the genus Lepus, similar to a rabbit, but larger and with longer ears.
noun
- 1
Any of several plant-eating mammals of the genus Lepus, similar to a rabbit, but larger and with longer ears.
The hare has a reputation for exciting desire. Hare soup is credited with a particular aphrodisiac value.
- 2
The meat from this animal.
Ashe bit absent-mindedly into a piece of hare and swore mildly when he burned his tongue.
Hare is another delicious meat – it’s more ‘steaky’, darker and richer than rabbit.
In Milan, jugged hare is flavoured with grated chocolate, which adds colour and depth to the sauce.
- 3
The player in a paperchase, or hare and hounds game, who leaves a trail of paper to be followed.
Etymology
From Middle English hare, from Old English hara (“hare”), from Proto-West Germanic *hasō ~ *haʀ-, from Proto-Germanic *hesô, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱh₂s-én-; possibly related to or influenced by Proto-Germanic *haswaz (“grey”). Cognates See also West Frisian hazze, Dutch haas, German Hase, Norwegian and Swedish hare, Icelandic heri), Old English hasu, Middle High German heswe (“pale, dull”); also Welsh cannu (“to whiten”), ceinach (“hare”), Latin cānus (“white”), cascus (“old”), Old Prussian sasnis (“hare”), Pashto سوی (soe, “hare”) and Sanskrit शश (śaśa, “hare”).
verb
- 1
To move swiftly.
But Wales somehow snaffled possession for fly-half Jones to send half-back partner Mike Phillips haring away with Stoddart in support.
Desperate, Kim hurls his phone overarm at the creature's forehead. It's a solid chunk of metal and it's a dead hit. Grey reels backwards and cracks his skull against the wall. By the time he recovers, Kim is out of sight, haring away down the left corridor, just echoing, fading footsteps on concrete.
verb
- 1
obsoleteTo excite; to tease, or worry; to harry.
To hare and rate them thus at every turn, is not to teach them, but to vex, and torment them to no purpoſe.
Etymology
From Middle English harren, harien (“to drag by force, ill-treat”), of uncertain origin. Compare harry, harass.
adjective
- 1
Grey, hoary; grey-haired, venerable (of people).
a hare old man
- 2
Cold, frosty (of weather).
a hare day
Etymology
From Middle English hore, from Old English hār (“hoar, hoary, grey, old”), from Proto-Germanic *hairaz (“grey”). Cognate with German hehr (“noble, sublime”).
Forms
- plural
- hares
- past tense
- hared
- past participle
- hared
- present participle
- haring
- third person singular
- hares
hare · Any of several plant-eating mammals of the genus Lepus, similar to a rabbit, but larger and with longer ears.
Hare · A surname transferred from the nickname.harem · The private section of a Muslim household forbidden to male…Hari · A name or epithet given commonly to Vishnu, but also to Indra…