WORKHORSE

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does workhorse mean? 

• WORKHORSE (noun)
  The noun WORKHORSE has 2 senses:

1. machine that performs dependably under heavy use

2. a horse used for plowing and hauling and other heavy labor

  Familiarity information: WORKHORSE used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WORKHORSE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Machine that performs dependably under heavy use

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

the IBM main frame computers have been the workhorse of the business world

Hypernyms ("workhorse" is a kind of...):

machine (any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A horse used for plowing and hauling and other heavy labor

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Hypernyms ("workhorse" is a kind of...):

Equus caballus; horse (solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "workhorse"):

plough horse; plow horse (a horse used to pull a plow)

draft horse; draught horse; dray horse (horse adapted for drawing heavy loads)

packhorse (a workhorse used as a pack animal)

dobbin; farm horse (a quiet plodding workhorse)

 Context examples 

Considered the workhorse molecules of cells, proteins are responsible for nearly every task in living systems.

(Study shows limitations of method for determining protein structure, National Science Foundation)