# shoe

/ˈʃu/ (US) · /ʃˈuː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shoe
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. footwear

noun · CEFR A1

one of a pair of coverings that you wear on your feet to protect them.

For teachers: an item of footwear intended to protect and comfort the human foot, typically ending below the ankle.

- He took off his muddy shoes before walking onto the clean carpet.
- The athlete selected a lightweight pair of shoes designed specifically for long-distance running on synthetic tracks.

Usage: usually used in the plural 'shoes' or as 'a pair of shoes'.

### 2. for a horse

noun · CEFR B1

a U-shaped piece of metal nailed to a horse's hoof to protect it.

For teachers: a protective metal plate, typically U-shaped, attached to the hoof of a horse to prevent wear and injury.

- The blacksmith checked the horse's shoe to see if it was loose.
- The farrier arrived early to replace a thrown shoe before the morning's equestrian competition began.

### 3. mechanical part

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a part of a machine, like a brake, that presses against another part to stop it.

For teachers: a part of a braking system or other mechanism that applies friction or provides a bearing surface.

- The mechanic told me that the brake shoes on my car were worn out.
- The engineer inspected the brake shoe for signs of uneven wear, which suggested a misalignment in the drum assembly.

Teaching tip: This is a highly technical sense; learners will most likely encounter it in 'brake shoe' when discussing car repairs.

### 4. card dealer

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a box used in casinos to hold and deal several decks of cards.

For teachers: a gaming device used to hold multiple decks of playing cards, allowing for efficient dealing and reducing the frequency of shuffles.

- The dealer pulled a fresh card from the shoe at the blackjack table.
- To prevent card counting, the casino utilised a transparent shoe containing eight shuffled decks of cards.

### 5. to fit with shoes

verb · CEFR B2

to put shoes on a person or, more commonly, to put metal shoes on a horse.

For teachers: to furnish with shoes; specifically, the act of a farrier fitting a horse with horseshoes.

- The horse needs to be shod every six to eight weeks.
- The stable master insisted that all the carriage horses be shod with heavy-duty plates before the winter season.

Usage: The past tense and past participle is 'shod'.

Teaching tip: In modern English, this verb is rarely used for humans; it almost exclusively refers to horses.

## Examples

- I need to buy new shoes.
- He took off his muddy shoes before coming inside the house.
- The marathon runner's custom-fitted shoes were engineered for optimal support and minimal weight over long distances.

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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.