Word
gait
US/ˈɡeɪt/
UK/ɡˈeɪt/
Definitions
01manner of walking
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. the particular way that you walk.
n. a person's manner of walking or stepping, often used to describe the rhythm, speed, or physical carriage of the body.
“He had a slow, heavy gait that made him easy to recognize from a distance.”
“The doctor observed the patient's unsteady gait, noting how he favored his left side while crossing the examination room.”
Usage
Often modified by adjectives like 'steady', 'shuffling', 'clumsy', or 'brisk'.
02horse locomotion
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Sports Technical
n. the different ways a horse moves, such as a trot or a gallop.
n. any of the distinct patterns of locomotion exhibited by a horse, whether natural or trained.
“The rider trained the horse to maintain a smooth gait during the competition.”
“In dressage, the horse is judged on the fluidity and precision of its various gaits, including the walk, trot, and canter.”
03to train a horse's walk
C2 · Proficiency Sports Technical
v. to teach a horse how to walk in a specific way.
v. to train or lead a horse in a manner that develops or displays a specific gait.
“The trainer spent weeks gaiting the young horse for the upcoming show.”
“Professional handlers gait their animals with precision to ensure they present the most athletic profile to the judges.”
Usage
This transitive verb is almost exclusively used in equestrian or dog-showing contexts.
Real-World Examples
“All normal human gait steps, however, were heel strikes, with the angle of foot contact relative to the ground very consistent within and between individuals.” Etymology
From a specialised use of gate (“way, manner, behaviour, habit", properly "way, path, street, journey”), from Middle English gate (“way, path, road, street”), from Old Norse gata (“path, lane, alley, road”), from Proto-Germanic *gatwǭ (“passageway, street”). Doublet of gate.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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