hare

[ hair ]

noun

, plural hares, (especially collectively) hare.

1. any rodentlike mammal of the genus Lepus, of the family Leporidae, having long ears, a divided upper lip, and long hind limbs adapted for leaping.
2. any of the larger species of this genus, as distinguished from certain of the smaller ones known as rabbits.
3. any of various similar animals of the same family.
4. Hare, Astronomy. the constellation Lepus.
5. the player pursued in the game of hare and hounds.

verb (used without object)

, hared, har·ing.

1. Chiefly British. to go, run, or proceed swiftly, suddenly, or impulsively; rush; speed; take off: The young forward instantly spotted the opportunity and hared in to put the ball into the net.

   What if someone came haring around the corner on a moped?

   The young forward instantly spotted the opportunity and hared in to put the ball into the net.

Hare

¹

/ hɛə /

noun

1. a member of a Dene Native Canadian people of northern Canada

hare

²

/ hɛə /

noun

1. any solitary leporid mammal of the genus Lepus, such as L. europaeus ( European hare ). Hares are larger than rabbits, having longer ears and legs, and live in shallow nests (forms) leporine
2. make a hare of someone informal.
   to defeat someone completely
3. run with the hare and hunt with the hounds
   to be on good terms with both sides

verb

1. informal.
   intr; often foll by off, after, etc to go or run fast or wildly

Hare

³

/ hɛə /

noun

1. HareSir David1947MBritishTHEATRE: dramatistTHEATRE: theatre director Sir David. born 1947, British dramatist and theatre director: his plays include Plenty (1978), Pravda (with Howard Brenton, 1985), The Secret Rapture (1989), Racing Demon (1990), The Permanent Way (2003), and Stuff Happens (2004)
2. HareWilliam19th century19th centuryMIrishCRIME AND POLICING: murdererCRIME AND POLICING: bodysnatcher William. 19th century, Irish murderer and bodysnatcher: associate of William Burke

Derived Forms

• ˈhareˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• hare·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hare¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English hara; cognate with Danish hare; akin to German Hase “hare,” Old English hasu “gray”

Word History and Origins

Origin of hare¹

of Athapascan origin

Origin of hare²

Old English hara; related to Old Norse heri, Old High German haso, Swedish hare, Sanskrit śaśá

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. hare off, to change course or shift one’s attention suddenly or impulsively; veer off (often followed by after ):

   Adhering to a challenging summer book list will keep me from haring off after every new beach read that catches my eye.

More idioms and phrases containing hare

see mad as a hatter (March hare) ; run with (the hare) .

Example Sentences

Also discovered in the archaeological excavation -- led by UW Department of Anthropology Professor Todd Surovell -- was a bead made from a hare bone, the oldest known bead in the Americas.

From Science Daily

He suggested "hares were set running" by previous industry guidance that has since been withdrawn.

From BBC

Whether haring down a treacherous Tour de France descent, or bunny hopping up sandy terrain, multi-eventer Pidcock is filling the void left by Britain's millennial cycling superstars.

From BBC

The bodies of around 50 dead hares, a barn owl and a kestrel were left outside Broughton Community Shop in Hampshire on 15 March.

From BBC

The bodies of about 50 dead hares, a barn owl and a kestrel were dumped outside Broughton Community Shop in Hampshire earlier this month.

From BBC

Hare Vs. Rabbit

What’s the difference between hares and rabbits?

Hares and rabbits are both rodentlike mammals in the Leporidae family, but they’re two different species.

They look similar, with long ears and large hind legs that make them great jumpers and fast runners.

One main difference is that hares are bigger than rabbits.

They also appear much differently at birth. Hares are born furry, open-eyed, and ready to run. Rabbits, however, are born without fur and are unable to see at first. To protect their helpless kits or kittens (you can call them bunnies but that’s not a technical term), rabbits dig underground burrows. Hares, on the other hand, build shallow nests in the grass.

So, the bigger it is, the more likely it is to be a hare. If it has a burrow underground, it’s a rabbit.

Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between hares and rabbits.

Quiz yourself on hare vs. rabbit!

True or False? 

Rabbits burrow underground.