Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense harnesses, present participle harnessing, past tense, past participle harnessed
1. verb
If you harness something such as an emotion or natural source of energy, you bring it under your control and use it.
We need to find new ways of harnessing that enthusiasm and commitment. [VERB noun]
Turkey plans to harness the waters of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers for big hydro-electricpower projects. [VERB noun]
2. countable noun
A harness is a set of straps which fit under a person's arms and fasten round their body in order to keep a piece of equipment in place or to prevent the person moving from a place.
3. countable noun
A harness is a set of leather straps and metal links fastened round a horse's head or body so that the horse can have a carriage, cart, or plough fastened to it.
4. verb [usually passive]
If a horse or other animal is harnessed, a harness is put on it, especially so that it can pull a carriage, cart, or plough.
On Sunday the horses were harnessed to a heavy wagon for a day-long ride over theBorder. [beVERB-ed + to]
[Also beVERB-ed]
Synonyms: put in harness, couple, saddle, yoke More Synonyms of harness
5.
See in harness
6.
See in harness
More Synonyms of harness
harness in British English
(ˈhɑːnɪs)
noun
1.
an arrangement of leather straps buckled or looped together, fitted to a draught animal in order that the animal can be attached to and pull a cart
2.
something resembling this, esp for attaching something to the body
a parachute harness
3. mountaineering
an arrangement of webbing straps that enables a climber to attach himself or herself to the rope so that the impact of a fall is minimized
4.
the total system of electrical leads for a vehicle or aircraft
5. weaving
the part of a loom that raises and lowers the warp threads, creating the shed
6. archaic
armour collectively
7. in harness
verb(transitive)
8.
to put harness on (a horse)
9. (usually foll by to)
to attach (a draught animal) by means of harness to (a cart, etc)
10.
to control so as to employ the energy or potential power of
to harness the atom
11.
to equip or clothe with armour
Derived forms
harnesser (ˈharnesser)
noun
harnessless (ˈharnessless)
adjective
harness-like (ˈharness-ˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
C13: from Old French harneis baggage, probably from Old Norse hernest (unattested) provisions, from herr army + nest provisions
harness in American English
(ˈhɑːrnɪs)
noun
1.
the combination of straps, bands, and other parts forming the working gear of a draft animal
Compare 1"> yoke1 (sense 1)
2. (on a loom)
the frame containing heddles through which the warp is drawn and which, in combination with another such frame or other frames, forms the shedand determines the woven pattern
3.
the equipment, as straps, bolts, or gears, by which a large bell is mounted and rung
4. Electricity See wiring harness
5.
armor for persons or horses
6. See in double harness
7. See in harness
transitive verb
8.
to put a harness on (a horse, donkey, dog, etc.); attach by a harness, as to a vehicle
9.
to bring under conditions for effective use; gain control over for a particular end
to harness water power
to harness the energy of the sun
10. archaic
to array in armor or equipments of war
Derived forms
harnesser
noun
harnessless
adjective
harnesslike
adjective
Word origin
[1250–1300; ME harneis, herneis ‹ OF herneis baggage, equipment ‹ ON *hernest provisions for an armed force, equiv. to herr army (cf. harbor, herald) + nest provisions for a journey]
More idioms containing
harness
in harness
Examples of 'harness' in a sentence
harness
They harness the energy and urgency of electronic music while largely doing away with emotion and invention.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is from a class of drugs that harness the body 's immune system to fight cancerous cells.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
And there is always wind power to harness, blessed as the islands are with the trade winds.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The technology's inventors suggest harnessing solar power from roads will be a more publicly acceptable way of producing green energy than large solar farms.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Yet a San Francisco entrepreneur is attempting to harness the power of artificial intelligence to redefine loss.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The most telling signs were an incorrect horse harness and an error in the cuneiform inscription.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The first significant work on the programme harnessed that power.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
All visitors are fitted with climbing harnesses.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
There was no net below her and no harness attached to her.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We were put in harnesses and within minutes reached the top.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
An actor said that his colleague was also meant to be wearing a body harness.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is hoped this sustainable form of energy could be harnessed to power electronic gadgets.
The Sun (2014)
Ban putting horses in harnesses to pull carriages.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But it seems small businesses are not harnessing the power of the internet.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We can keep doing this and more if we work together to harness what housing associations can offer.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
One initiative is to try to harness the heat energy produced by braking trains and convert it into electricity.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Your coal tub was the size of a kitchen table and your pony had a leather and wooden harness.
Max Arthur Lost Voices of the Edwardians: 19011910 in the words of the Men & Women Who WereThere (2006)
From his left the sound of hooves and a jingle of horse harness announced the approach of a group of riders.
Iain Gale Man of Honour (2007)
Each dog had its position in the team and the line attached to its harness varied according to the working place.
Edward Beauclerk Maurice THE LAST OF THE GENTLEMEN ADVENTURERS: Coming of Age in the Arctic (2004)
The former is renowned for harness horse racing, while the latter has a historic pilgrimage church.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
A qualified auto electrician should be able to fit the wiring harness in about half an hour.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Sit down into the harness, keep your back straight and feed the rope from your shoulder to your hip to descend.
The Sun (2013)
Steel sections are being lifted by cranes to the top of the glass pyramid, where workers wearing safety harnesses bolt them together.
The Sun (2012)
Much of the growth is expected to come from a new class of cancer medicines that work by harnessing the body 's immune system.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Word lists with
harness
Tack and equipment and their parts
In other languages
harness
British English: harness VERB
If you harness something such as an emotion or natural source of energy, you bring it under your control and use it.
They harness the power of the wind to supply us with heat and light.
American English: harness
Brazilian Portuguese: arrear
Chinese: 利用
European Spanish: aprovechar
French: exploiter
German: nutzen
Italian: sfruttare
Japanese: 利用する
Korean: 다스려 활용하다
European Portuguese: arrear
Latin American Spanish: aprovechar
British English: harness NOUN
A harness is a set of straps which fit under a person's arms and fasten round their body in order to keep a piece of equipment in place or to prevent the person moving from a place.
American English: harness
Brazilian Portuguese: arreios
Chinese: 利用
European Spanish: arnés
French: harnais
German: Geschirr
Italian: imbracatura
Japanese: 安全ベルト
Korean: 사람 몸에 메는 마구같은 벨트
European Portuguese: arreios
Latin American Spanish: arnés
All related terms of 'harness'
in harness
People or things who are working in harness are working together in order to achieve a particular aim .
harness hitch
a knot forming a loop with no free ends
harness horse
a horse used for pulling vehicles
harness race
a trotting or pacing race for standard-bred horses driven in sulkies and harnessed in a special way to cause them to use the correct gait
double harness
a harness for a pair of horses
wiring harness
a system of insulated conducting wires bound together with insulating materials, used in the electrical system of a machine, as a motor vehicle or washing machine
die in harness
to die while still working or active, prior to retirement
shoulder harness
a restraining device consisting of an anchored strap passing diagonally across the chest , used with a seat belt, as in an automobile
in double harness
married
trotting race
a race for standard-bred horses driven in sulkies and harnessed in a special way to cause them to use the correct gait
Chinese translation of 'harness'
harness
(ˈhɑːnɪs)
n(c)
(for horse, dog etc) 挽(輓)具 (wǎnjù) (副, fù)
(= safety harness) 安全带(帶) (ānquándài) (根, gēn)
vt
[resources, energy]利用 (lìyòng)
[horse, dog]套上 (tàoshàng)
1 (verb)
Definition
to control something in order to make use of it
The firm is very big on harnessing the energy and enthusiasm of youth.
Synonyms
exploit
The opposition are exploiting the situation to their advantage.
control
channel
apply
The government appears to be applying the same principle.
employ
the approaches and methods we employed in this study
utilize
Sound engineers utilize a range of techniques.
mobilize
make productive
turn to account
render useful
2 (verb)
Definition
to put a harness on (a horse or other animal)
The horses were harnessed to a heavy wagon.
Synonyms
put in harness
couple
saddle
yoke
a plough team of eight oxen yoked in pairs
hitch up
span (South Africa)
(noun)
Definition
something resembling this, for attaching something to a person's body
Always check that the straps of the harness are properly adjusted.
Synonyms
equipment
Exports of military equipment are banned.
tackle
fishing tackle
gear
fishing gear
tack
trappings
idiom
See in harness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of apply
Definition
to put to practical use
The government appears to be applying the same principle.
Synonyms
use,
exercise,
carry out,
employ,
engage,
implement,
practise,
execute,
assign,
administer,
exert,
enact,
utilize,
bring to bear,
put to use,
bring into play
in the sense of employ
Definition
to use as a means
the approaches and methods we employed in this study