Hose is an English word with several meanings. It can mean a flexibleAble to bend easily without breaking or becoming stiff. tube for carrying water or air, the act of sprayingForcing liquid out in a fine stream of drops. something with water from a hose, or clothing terms in British English and historicalRelated to the past or to older periods of language. English usage.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /hoʊz/
Easy pronunciation: HOHZ (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable; the stress is on the whole word.
Noun meaning a flexible pipe for conveying liquid or gas.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Hose Meaning
A flexible tube used to carry water, air, or another fluid.
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a flexible pipe for conveying a liquid or gas
Example: He dragged the garden hose across the yard.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- hosepipe — A direct synonym in British usage for the flexible tube sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Hose
Meaning 2
To spray or wash something using a hose.
Part of speech: verb
Definition: water with a hose
Example: Can you hose down the driveway?
Synonyms for this meaning:
- hose down — A direct verb form for washing or spraying with a hose.
Meaning 3
Clothing for the legs and feet, especially socks, stockings, and tights.
Part of speech: noun
Definition: socks and stockings and tights collectively (the British include underwear)
Example: The shop sells socks, tights, and other hosiery.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- hosiery — A direct term for socks, stockings, and tights.
Meaning 4
A tight men's leg garment worn in the 1500s and 1600s.
Part of speech: noun
Definition: man's close-fitting garment of the 16th and 17th centuries covering the legs and reaching up to the waist; worn with a doublet
Example: Portraits from the period often show men wearing hose with a doublet.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Hose Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- hosepipe
to water or spray with a hose
- hose down
clothing term for socks, stockings, and tights
- hosiery
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse hose the water pipe with hosiery, which means socks, stockings, and tights.
- In British English, hose can also mean socks or tights, but that is a different sense from the garden hose.
- The historical clothing sense refers to old-fashioned men's garments, not modern socks or pants.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning of hose?
Hose most commonly means a flexible pipe used to carry water or air. It can also mean to spray something with water from a hose, and in British English it can refer to socks, stockings, and tights.
What are synonyms for hose?
For the flexible tube sense, hosepipe is a direct synonym. For the verb sense, hose down is the matching phrase. For the clothing sense, hosiery is the closest term.
Is hose a noun or a verb?
Hose can be both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it usually means a flexible tube. As a verb, it means to spray or wash something with a hose.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
