pasture

1 of 2

noun

pas·​ture ˈpas-chər 

1

: plants (such as grass) grown for the feeding especially of grazing animals

2

: land or a plot of land used for grazing

3

: the feeding of livestock : grazing

pasture

2 of 2

verb

pastured; pasturing

intransitive verb

: graze, browse

transitive verb

1

: to feed (animals, such as cattle) on pasture

2

: to use as pasture

Synonyms

Noun

• lea
• ley
• pasturage
• range

Verb

• browse
• forage
• graze
• rustle

Examples of pasture in a Sentence

Noun

The horses were grazing in the pasture.

Most of their land is pasture.

Verb

The horses are pastured on several acres of land.

pasturing sheep on town lands was actually a cheaper alternative to mowing

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As lack of rainfall wreaks havoc on plant life, the Samburu people struggle to find grazing pasture for their cattle. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024

Based on a study published in Nature Sustainability a few months ago, 1.4 million hectares (the equivalent of nine cities the size of Greater London) were deforested in 2015 to open space for pasture for cows to graze. —Simi Thambi​, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

Verb

Jimmi Simpson, in a rare recurring Western role, plays Solomon’s boss, Tom Simpson, a disgraced banker put out to pasture at the Tokyo branch. —Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2024

Things have come so far that last year, BMO dropped its last name — Harris — ending a 141-year run for a quintessentially Chicago banking brand, and likely putting its venerable cartoon mascot, Hubert the Harris Lion, out to pasture for good. —Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin pastura, from Latin pastus, past participle of pascere to feed — more at food

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing pasture

• put out to pasture

Kids Definition

pasture

1 of 2 noun

pas·​ture ˈpas-chər 

1

: plants (as grass) for feeding especially grazing animals

2

: land or a plot of land used for grazing

pasture

2 of 2 verb

pastured; pasturing

1

: graze entry 1 sense 1

2

: to feed (as cattle) on pasture