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Definition of hoe

hoe

/hoʊ/
hoe

Plural:hoes
•
Past Simple:hoed
•
Past Participle:hoed
•
Present Participle:hoeing
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hoe Lexical Profile

hoe Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A derogatory slang term for a promiscuous person, often a woman; a variant spelling of 'ho'.

Example

"The controversial lyrics of the song casually referred to women as hoes."


2

A long-handled gardening tool with a thin metal blade, used mainly for weeding, shaping soil, and harvesting root crops.

Example

"The farmer used a hoe to clear the stubborn weeds from between the rows of corn."

Synonyms
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• verb

1

To dig, scrape, weed, or cultivate soil using a hoe.

Example

"They spent the entire morning hoeing the vegetable patch to prepare it for spring planting."

Synonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

In modern colloquial usage, 'hoe' is frequently used as a variant spelling of the derogatory slang word 'ho', though traditionally it refers strictly to the agricultural tool.

• Rhymes for hoe

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English 'howe', from Old French 'houe', of Germanic origin. It is related to Old High German 'houwa' and ultimately traces to a root meaning 'to hew' or 'strike'.

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hoe. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hoe
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