haw
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
haw 1
(hô)n.
An utterance used by a speaker who is fumbling for words.
intr.v. hawed, haw·ing, haws
To fumble in speaking.
[Imitative.]
haw 2
(hô)n.
1. The fruit of a hawthorn.
2. A hawthorn or similar tree or shrub.
[Middle English, from Old English haga.]
haw 3
(hô)n.
1. A nictitating membrane, especially of a domesticated animal.
2. An inflamed condition of this membrane.
[Origin unknown.]
haw 4
(hô)interj.
Used to command an animal pulling a load to turn to the left.
intr.v. hawed, haw·ing, haws
To turn to the left.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
haw
(hɔː)n
1. (Plants) the round or oval fruit (a pome) of the hawthorn, usually red or yellow, containing one to five seeds
2. (Plants) another name for hawthorn
[Old English haga, identical with haga hedge; related to Old Norse hagi pasture]
haw
(hɔː)n, interj
an inarticulate utterance, as of hesitation, embarrassment, etc; hem
vb
1. (intr) to make this sound
2. hem and haw hum and haw See hem23
[C17: of imitative origin]
haw
(hɔː)n
archaic a yard or close
[of unknown origin]
haw
(hɔː)n
(Zoology) the nictitating membrane of a horse or other domestic animal
[C15: of unknown origin]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
haw1
(hɔ)v.i.
1. to utter a sound representing a hesitation or pause in speech.
n. 2. a hesitation; pause.
[1625–35; imitative]
haw2
(hɔ)interj.
1. (used as a word of command to a horse or other draft animal, usu. directing it to turn to the left.)
v.t., v.i. 2. to turn or make a turn to the left. Compare gee 1.
[1835–45; appar. orig. the imperative haw! look! of Middle English hawen, Old English hāwian; akin to Latin cavēre to beware]
haw3
(hɔ)n.
1. the fruit of the hawthorn.
2. the hawthorn.
[before 1000; Middle English; Old English haga, presumably identical with haga hedge, fence]
haw4
(hɔ)n.
[1515–1525; orig. uncertain]
Haw.
Hawaii.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
haw
Past participle: hawed
Gerund: hawing
| Imperative |
|---|
| haw |
| haw |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
Haw
A verbal command sometimes used instead of reins to direct a horse to turn to the left.
1001 Words and Phrases You Never Knew You Didn’t Know by W.R. Runyan Copyright © 2011 by W.R. Runyan
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  haw - a spring-flowering shrub or small tree of the genus CrataegusCrataegus, genus Crataegus - thorny shrubs and small trees: hawthorn; thorn; thorn apple Crataegus apiifolia, Crataegus marshallii, parsley haw, parsley-leaved thorn - southern United States hawthorn with pinnately lobed leaves Crataegus biltmoreana, scarlet haw - common shrub or small tree of the eastern United States having few thorns and white flowers in corymbs followed by bright orange-red berries Crataegus calpodendron, Crataegus tomentosa, pear haw, pear hawthorn, blackthorn - erect and almost thornless American hawthorn with somewhat pear-shaped berries cockspur hawthorn, cockspur thorn, Crataegus crus-galli - eastern United States hawthorn with long straight thorns Crataegus aestivalis, mayhaw, summer haw - hawthorn of southern United States bearing a juicy, acidic, scarlet fruit that is often used in jellies or preserves Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus oxycantha, whitethorn, English hawthorn, may - thorny Eurasian shrub of small tree having dense clusters of white to scarlet flowers followed by deep red berries; established as an escape in eastern North America Crataegus monogyna, English hawthorn - European hawthorn having deeply cleft leaves and bright red fruits; widely cultivated in many varieties and often grown as impenetrable hedges; established as an escape in eastern North America Crataegus coccinea mollis, Crataegus mollis, downy haw, red haw - American red-fruited hawthorn with stems and leaves densely covered with short woolly hairs Crataegus oxyacantha, evergreen thorn - evergreen hawthorn of southeastern Europe Crataegus coccinea, Crataegus pedicellata, red haw - American red-fruited hawthorn with dense corymbs of pink-red flowers |
| 2. | haw - the nictitating membrane of a horse nictitating membrane, third eyelid - a protective fold of skin in the eyes of reptiles and birds and some mammals | |
| Verb | 1. | haw - utter `haw'; "he hemmed and hawed" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
haw
1 [hɔː] N → baya f del espinohaw
2 [hɔː] VI to hem and haw; hum and haw (= be indecisive) → vacilar; (= express reservations) → poner reparosCollins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
haw
[ˈhɔː] n (= hawthorn berry) → cenelle f
vi
to hem and haw, to hum and haw (British) (= hesitate) → balancer
to hem and haw, to hum and haw (British) (= hesitate) → balancer
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
haw
1n (Bot) → Mehlfässchen nt, → Mehlbeere f
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995