# hose

/ˈhoʊz/ (US) · /hˈəʊz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hose
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. flexible tube

noun · CEFR A2

a long, flexible tube used to carry water from a tap to a garden or a fire.

For teachers: a flexible pipe for conveying water or other liquids, typically used in gardening, firefighting, or industrial applications.

- He used the garden hose to water the flowers during the dry summer.
- The firefighters quickly unrolled the heavy-duty hose and connected it to the hydrant as smoke began to billow from the warehouse roof.

Usage: The noun is countable when referring to the tool itself.

### 2. leg coverings

noun · CEFR B2 · Archaic · Formal

an older word for tight clothing that covers the legs, like tights.

For teachers: a garment for the legs and feet; in modern contexts, refers to hosiery or tights, while historically referring to men's close-fitting breeches.

- In the museum, we saw a pair of silk hose worn by a king hundreds of years ago.
- The costume designer insisted on authentic woollen hose to ensure the Shakespearean production maintained its historical integrity.

Usage: Often functions as an uncountable collective noun in modern retail contexts.

### 3. to spray with water

verb · CEFR B1

to wash or water something using a hose.

For teachers: to direct a stream of water or other liquid onto a surface using a flexible tube.

- I need to hose the mud off my car before we go to the party.
- After the festival ended, the maintenance crew had to hose down the entire plaza to remove the accumulated debris.

Usage: Often used with the particle 'down' as in 'hose down'.

### 4. to break or ruin

verb · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

to completely break a computer system or ruin someone's chances.

For teachers: to cause a total failure of a system, or to disadvantage someone significantly through error or unfairness.

- The new software update completely hosed my laptop and I lost all my files.
- The team felt they were hosed by the referee's controversial decision in the final minutes of the championship game.

Teaching tip: This sense is common in tech circles and sports; it implies a sense of being 'cheated' or 'broken' beyond easy repair.

## Examples

- I used the garden hose to water the flowers.
- The firefighters quickly connected the heavy hose to the hydrant to extinguish the blaze.
- Industrial facilities often require reinforced hoses capable of withstanding high pressure and corrosive chemicals without leaking or bursting during operation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.