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View synonyms for

harness

[ hahr-nis ]

noun

  1. the combination of straps, bands, and other parts forming the working gear of a draft animal. Compare yoke 1( def 1 ).
  2. (on a loom) the frame containing heddles through which the warp is drawn and which, in combination with another such frame or other frames, forms the shed and determines the woven pattern.
  3. the equipment, as straps, bolts, or gears, by which a large bell is mounted and rung.
  4. Electricity. wiring harness.
  5. armor for persons or horses.


verb (used with object)

  1. to put a harness on (a horse, donkey, dog, etc.); attach by a harness, as to a vehicle.
  2. to bring under conditions for effective use; gain control over for a particular end:

    to harness water power; to harness the energy of the sun.

    Synonyms: , , ,

  3. Archaic. to array in armor or equipments of war.

harness

/ ˈɑːɪ /

noun

  1. an arrangement of leather straps buckled or looped together, fitted to a draught animal in order that the animal can be attached to and pull a cart
  2. something resembling this, esp for attaching something to the body

    a parachute harness

  3. mountaineering an arrangement of webbing straps that enables a climber to attach himself to the rope so that the impact of a fall is minimized
  4. the total system of electrical leads for a vehicle or aircraft
  5. weaving the part of a loom that raises and lowers the warp threads, creating the shed
  6. archaic.
    armour collectively
  7. in harness
    at one's routine work
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to put harness on (a horse)
  2. usually foll by to to attach (a draught animal) by means of harness to (a cart, etc)
  3. to control so as to employ the energy or potential power of

    to harness the atom

  4. to equip or clothe with armour
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈ󲹰Ա, noun
  • ˈ󲹰Ա, adjective
  • ˈ󲹰Ա-ˌ, adjective
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Other yvlog Forms

  • 󲹰n· noun
  • 󲹰n· adjective
  • 󲹰n· adjective
  • ·󲹰n verb (used with object)
  • ɱ-󲹰n adjective
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yvlog History and Origins

Origin of harness1

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English harneis, herneis, from Old French herneis “baggage, equipment,” from Old Norse hernest (unrecorded) “provisions for an armed force,” equivalent to herr “army” ( harbor, herald ) + nest “provisions for a journey”
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yvlog History and Origins

Origin of harness1

C13: from Old French harneis baggage, probably from Old Norse hernest (unattested) provisions, from herr army + nest provisions
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Idioms and Phrases

  1. in harness,
    1. engaged in one's usual routine of work:

      After his illness he longed to get back in harness.

    2. together as cooperating partners or equals:

      Joe and I worked in harness on our last job.

  2. in double harness. double harness ( def 2 ).

More idioms and phrases containing harness

see die with one's boots on (in harness) in harness .
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

If they can harness the creature’s healing properties, no other pharma company could compete with their product.

From

It functions like a National Weather Service for infectious diseases, harnessing data and expertise to predict the course of outbreaks like a meteorologist warns of storms.

From

It includes more than 800 items, including two cauldrons or vessels, horse harness, bridle bits, ceremonial spears and 28 iron tyres, believed to have been buried about 2,000 years ago.

From

His food costs £90 a month, there are vet's bills, and recently he needed a new harness that helps him to communicate to her, including when she is about to faint.

From

“Enzymes, a kind of biological catalyst, could be harnessed more effectively in healthcare and agriculture, thanks to accurate calculations about their behavior that only quantum computing can provide,” it states.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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