English Reference
noun · verb

hare

n. · v.
US /ˈhɛɹ/ UK /hˈeə/ hare UK spelling hare's, hare's, hared, haring

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.a wild animal like a rabbit but larger, with very long ears and long back legs for running fast.

    n.a mammal of the genus Lepus, larger and swifter than a rabbit, with longer ears and hind legs.

    Simple

    The dog tried to chase the hare, but the animal disappeared into the tall grass.

    In context

    Unlike rabbits, which retreat to burrows, the hare relies on its incredible speed and camouflage to evade predators in open fields.

    jackrabbit
  2. 02 C1 Advanced British EnglishInformal

    v.to run or move very quickly, often in a hurry.

    v.to move at great speed; an intransitive verb often used with 'off' or 'down'.

    Simple

    As soon as the bell rang, the children hared off toward the playground.

    In context

    The suspect hared down the narrow alleyway, successfully losing the police officers in the maze of backstreets.

    crawlamble
  3. 03 C2 Proficiency British English Sport

    n.in some traditional racing games, the person who starts first and leaves a trail for others to follow.

    n.the designated runner in a paperchase or 'hare and hounds' game who leaves a trail of paper for the 'hounds' to track.

    Simple

    In the school game, Tom was chosen to be the hare and started laying the paper trail.

    In context

    The success of a paperchase depends on the hare's ability to create a challenging but followable path through the woods.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated