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

Slain cattle stripped of certain organs with surgical precision and found in pastures with no trace of blood or evidence have stumped ranchers and law enforcement in quiet farming communities nationwide since at least the 1970s, and potentially for over a century. —Christina Coulter, Fox News, 28 Nov. 2024

The pastures were dotted with sheep, goats and cows whose milk is curdled into the region’s famous Tolminc, an earthy cheese with a touch of sweetness Roš incorporates into some of her creations. —Ellen Ruppel Shell, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 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