rein

[ reyn ]

/ reɪn /

noun

Often reins. a leather strap, fastened to each end of the bit of a bridle, by which the rider or driver controls a horse or other animal by pulling so as to exert pressure on the bit.

any of certain other straps or thongs forming part of a harness, as a checkrein.

any means of curbing, controlling, or directing; check; restraint.

reins, the controlling or directing power: the reins of government.

verb (used with object)

to check or guide (a horse or other animal) by exerting pressure on a bridle bit by means of the reins.

to curb; restrain; control.

verb (used without object)

to obey the reins: a horse that reins well.

to rein a horse or other animal.

Idioms for rein

draw rein, to curtail one's speed or progress; halt: The rider saw the snake and drew rein sharply.

give rein to, to give complete freedom to; indulge freely: to give rein to one's imagination. Also give free rein to, give full rein to.

Origin of rein

1300–50; (noun) Middle English rene, reine, raine < Old French re(s)ne < Vulgar Latin *retina, noun derivative of Latin retinēre to hold back, retain; (v.) Middle English rainen, reinen, derivative of the noun

SYNONYMS FOR rein

6 check, bridle, limit.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR rein ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM rein

rein·less, adjective un·reined, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH rein

rain reign rein

Words nearby rein

reimplantation, reimport, reimpose, reimpression, reims, rein, rein in, reincarnate, reincarnation, reindeer, reindeer lake

British Dictionary definitions for give rein to

rein

/ (reɪn) /

noun

(often plural) one of a pair of long straps, usually connected together and made of leather, used to control a horse, running from the side of the bit or the headstall to the hand of the rider, driver, or trainer

a similar device used to control a very young child

any form or means of control to take up the reins of government

the direction in which a rider turns (in phrases such as on a left (or right) rein, change the rein)

something that restrains, controls, or guides

give free rein or give a free rein to allow considerable freedom; remove restraints

keep a tight rein on to control carefully; limit we have to keep a tight rein on expenditure

on a long rein with the reins held loosely so that the horse is relatively unconstrained

shorten the reins to take up the reins so that the distance between hand and bit is lessened, in order that the horse may be more collected

verb

(tr) to check, restrain, hold back, or halt with or as if with reins

to control or guide (a horse) with a rein or reins they reined left

Word Origin for rein

C13: from Old French resne, from Latin retinēre to hold back, from re- + tenēre to hold; see restrain

undefined rein

See reign

Idioms and Phrases with give rein to (1 of 2)

give rein to

see under free hand.

Idioms and Phrases with give rein to (2 of 2)

rein

see draw in the reins; free hand (rein) tight rein on.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

rein

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Idioms for rein

Origin of rein

SYNONYMS FOR rein

OTHER WORDS FROM rein

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH rein

Words nearby rein

British Dictionary definitions for give rein to

noun

verb

Word Origin for rein

undefined rein

Idioms and Phrases with give rein to (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with give rein to (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

rein

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Idioms for rein

Origin of rein

SYNONYMS FOR rein

OTHER WORDS FROM rein

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH rein

Words nearby rein

Words related to give rein to

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for give rein to

noun

verb

Word Origin for rein

undefined rein

Idioms and Phrases with give rein to (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with give rein to (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for give rein to