gallop
gallop Lexical Profile
gallop Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The fastest natural gait of a horse or other quadruped, consisting of a four-beat stride during which all four feet are briefly off the ground at the same time.
"The rider urged the mare from a steady trot into a full gallop across the open meadow."
A ride on a horse moving at a fast, four-beat gait, or any rapid, hurried pace or progression.
"Every Saturday morning, she enjoys a brisk gallop along the coastal trail before breakfast."
In medicine, an abnormal three-beat or four-beat heart rhythm heard through a stethoscope, caused by an extra heart sound alongside the normal two beats.
"During the physical examination, the cardiologist detected a faint ventricular gallop upon auscultation."
• verb
To run at the fastest four-beat gait (of a horse or other four-legged animal), or to ride a horse at this speed.
"Wild mustangs galloped freely across the dusty plains as the sun began to set."
To proceed, progress, or move forward at a very rapid, hurried, or uncontrolled pace.
"The speaker galloped through the remaining slides so the conference would finish on schedule."
To cause a horse to run at a gallop.
"The jockey galloped the thoroughbred around the practice track to warm up before the race."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'gallop' (the fast gait of a horse) with 'Gallup' (the proper name of a famous American public-opinion polling organization) or 'galop' (a lively 19th-century ballroom dance).
• Rhymes for gallop
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the early 16th century from Old French 'galoper' (variant of Old Northern French 'waloper', the source of English 'wallop'), which is itself of Germanic (Frankish) origin, related to words meaning 'to run well' or 'to leap'.