Meaning & use
equine
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Meanings
adjectivenot comparabletechnical
Connected with horses or the horse family.
Grammar: Used before a noun: equine care, equine sports.
She studies equine nutrition at the veterinary college.
The farm offers equine therapy for anxious children.
An equine virus spread through the stables.
adjectivecomparablehumorous
Looking like or resembling a horse, as of a long face.
Grammar: Often describes a long jaw or nose.
He had a long, equine face and a gentle smile.
The statue had an almost equine profile.
nouncountabletechnical
A horse or another animal in the horse family, such as a donkey or zebra.
Grammar: Used in veterinary or scientific contexts.
The clinic treats equines of every size.
Zebras are wild equines of Africa.
Word forms
| plural | equines |
|---|
Common combinations
- equine veterinarian
- An equine veterinarian examined the limping mare.
- equine therapy
- Equine therapy helped him relax.
- equine influenza
- Equine influenza forced the races to be cancelled.
- equine sports
- Riders train hard in equine sports.
- equine species
- Several equine species live on the plains.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- equestrian adjective
- relating to horse riding
- equus noun
- the scientific genus name for horses
- equinely adverb
- in a horse-like way (rare)
Commonly confused: equine or equestrian? equine or equinox?
equine vs equestrian
Equestrian relates to riding horses, while equine relates to the animals themselves.
equine vs equinox
Equinox is the day when night and day are equal and has no link to horses.
Practice
A vet who specializes in horses is often called an ___ vet.
Choose one answer.
Equine relates to horses. Avian means birds, bovine means cattle, and canine means dogs.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “equine”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.