hoar

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "hoar" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an old-fashioned word for frost or the grey or white appearance that frost gives to the landscape, and as a verb, it means to be covered with frost. For example, in winter, the fields can hoar over with frost.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

As his book progresses, he introduces many of these words into his own text, so that vividly onomatopoeic sentences such as "the wind flung rain against the windows with a fat clatter" are counter-pointed by unfamiliar nouns, verbs and adjectives that sparkle like ammil (a Devon word meaning the effect of morning sunlight on hoar frost).

Independent

Under a thick hoar frost, the landscape seems almost ethereally lovely.

Independent

Snow covers the village in Sisley's Winter at Louveciennes, the slanting shapes of three passers-by drawing the eye to the twisted trunks of fruit trees on which a hoar frost hangs like wintry blossom.

Independent

She showed a dark-brown pelt whose hairs were tipped with silver like hoar frost, $2000 "It is a kind of otter that lives in rivers.

The New Yorker

He said that many people had never experienced a depth hoar snowpack and that despite repeated warnings about the danger of conditions: "I think there were a lot of people that didn't believe us.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. McCall performed stability tests in a snowpit at about 11,300 feet — the snow was about 30 inches deep, with depth hoar and uncohesive snow making up about the bottom third.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

One striking sequence shows Endurance buried up to her deck in ice, a tangle of rigging and splintered timbers, every surface thickly covered with hoar-frost.The American Museum of Natural History has enlisted all manner of multi-media gizmos and high-tech gadgets to bring the story of the Endurance expedition to life.

The Economist

The moving Moon went up the sky, And no where did abide: Softly she was going up, And a star or two beside –   Her beams bemocked the sultry main, Like April hoar-frost spread; But where the ship's huge shadow lay, The charméd water burnt alway A still and awful red.

The Guardian - Books

There are dark anti-epiphanies such as "Old Man", in which memory remains disturbingly elusive: I have mislaid the key No garden appears, no path, no hoar-green bush Of Lad's-love, or Old Man, no child beside, Neither father or mother, nor any playmate; Only an avenue, dark, nameless, without end.

The Guardian - Books

"Reconstruction" examines the "fabulous blueprints" left by the ruins of ancient cities when "domes cave, towers like telescopes / collapse upon themselves, the icy gate / like a berg breaks up, and hoar-frost serves as poor man's grout".

The Guardian - Books

She snaps at an assistant to book an appointment with her Pilates instructor, Jorge, which she pronounces, "hoar-HAY".

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hoar" to evoke a sense of antiquity or to create a poetic and descriptive tone, particularly when discussing winter landscapes or aged features.

Common error

Avoid using "hoar" in modern contexts where a simpler term like "frost" or "grey" would be more appropriate. Overusing "hoar" can make your writing sound affected or archaic.

Linguistic Context

The word "hoar" primarily functions as an adjective or a noun. As an adjective, it describes something white or greyish-white, often associated with frost or age. As a noun, it refers to the frost itself, according to Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

9%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "hoar" is an adjective or noun primarily used to describe something white or greyish-white, often in the context of frost or age. It appears most frequently in news and media, according to Ludwig. While grammatically correct, its usage is somewhat uncommon in modern conversation, making it more appropriate for descriptive or literary writing. Ludwig AI explains that the word can be used to describe frost or the grey/white appearance that frost provides to the landscape. When using "hoar", consider its connotations of antiquity and aim for a tone that is both descriptive and poetic.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hoarfrost

A more specific term directly referring to frost resembling white hair.

white frost

A more literal and common description of the same phenomenon.

rime frost

Another term for a type of frost with a feathery appearance.

frosted

Similar to "hoar" frost but generally referring to a light covering.

covered in frost

Descriptive phrase emphasizing the state of being covered in frost.

frost-covered

Adjective form emphasizing the covering of frost.

grey with age

Focuses on the aspect of being aged and grey, similar to "hoar" hair.

silvered

Implies a silver or grey sheen, similar to the appearance of frost or aged hair.

white-haired

Describes hair color due to age, similar to the "hoar" hair concept.

aged

A simpler term focusing on the state of being old.

FAQs

What does "hoar" mean?

"Hoar" refers to white frost or the grayish-white color associated with frost and age. It can also describe something musty or moldy.

How can I use "hoar" in a sentence?

You can say "The fields were covered in "hoarfrost"", or "He had a "white-haired", "hoar" beard".

Is "hoar" an outdated word?

While "hoar" is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it is still found in literature and descriptive writing. Simpler alternatives are usually preferable but can be appropriate for evoking a specific atmosphere or aesthetic.

What are some synonyms for "hoar"?

Synonyms for "hoar" include "frost", "white frost", "rime", "grey", and ""white-haired"", depending on the context.