1. plural of hoof; the hard covering that protects the feet of horses, cattle, sheep, and other animals

Examples

• The horse’s hooves clattered on the cobblestone street.
• The blacksmith carefully examined the mare’s hooves before shoeing her.
• We could hear the sound of cattle hooves approaching across the field.
• The veterinarian trimmed the goat’s overgrown hooves.
• Fresh hoofprints showed where the deer’s hooves had pressed into the mud.
• The farmer checked his sheep’s hooves for signs of disease.