Shoe Definition, Examples, and Usage Tips

Meaning 1：footwear (shoe)

shoe 🔊

/ʃuː/

Something you wear on your foot, usually made of leather or fabric, to protect your feet and help you walk.

footwear 🔊

➕

/ˈfʊtwɛr/

An outer covering for the human foot, typically made of leather or synthetic materials, with a stiff sole and an upper part.

📁 Category：Objects & Materials 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'scōh'; related to German 'Schuh' and Dutch 'schoen'.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine your foot saying 'shoo!' to the ground, but it gets covered by a 'shoe'.

📖 Example

After a long day at work, I love to kick off my tight dress shoes and put on a pair of soft slippers. 🔊 After a long day at work, I love to kick off my tight dress shoes and put on a pair of soft slippers.

🔗 Collocations

pair of shoes – two matching shoes worn together

shoe size – the measurement of the length and width of a foot for fitting shoes

shoe polish – a substance used to clean and shine shoes

🔄 Synonyms

footwear (n.) – any type of covering for the feet, such as shoes, boots, or sandals

boot (n.) – a sturdy shoe that covers the ankle and sometimes the leg

sandal (n.) – a type of open shoe consisting of a sole held on by straps

🌱 Derivatives

shoeless (adj.) – not wearing shoes

shoer (n.) – a person who makes or sells shoes

shoestring (n.) – a shoelace; also, a small amount of money

📖 Cultural Story

Shoes date back to 8,000 BCE, with early sandals found in Fort Rock Cave, Oregon. The word 'shoe' comes from Proto-Germanic '*skōhaz'.