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

This six-day trip is rated level 3/4 and explores the lush mountain pastures of Alpe di Siusi and Alpe Seceda, set against the iconic Sassolungo Peak. —Everett Potter, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

The inn has 18 rooms and suites, and an award-winning restaurant that marries Bavarian specialties with farm-fresh regional fare sourced from local Park City pastures. —Lisa Lockwood, WWD, 16 Dec. 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