horseshoe

Everyday

1. A U-shaped piece of metal nailed to the bottom of a horse's hoof to protect it. tree →
2. Anything shaped like a U, as in a horseshoe magnet or a horseshoe bend in a river. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life and stories a horseshoe hung over a door is a sign of good luck. In science a horseshoe magnet has two poles close together. In geography a river can bend in a horseshoe shape. On farms a blacksmith or farrier fits horseshoes.

Examples

• The farrier nailed a new horseshoe on the pony. tree →
• A horseshoe hangs above our front door for luck. tree →
• We picked up paper clips with a horseshoe magnet. tree →
• The tables were set out in a horseshoe. tree →
• The river makes a horseshoe bend near the town. tree →
• We played a game of throwing horseshoes at a peg. tree →
• Horses need new horseshoes every few weeks. tree →

Note

Countable; one word. Horseshoes do not hurt horses because the hoof is like a thick fingernail. Luck from horseshoes is a superstition, not a fact. Not the same as a horseshoe crab, which is a sea animal.