Rein (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

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noun
  1. a leather strap, fastened to each end of the bit of a bridle, by which the rider or driver controls a horse or other animal by pulling so as to exert pressure on the bit.
  2. any of certain other straps or thongs forming part of a harness, as a checkrein.
  3. any means of curbing, controlling, or directing; check; restraint.
  4. the controlling or directing power: the reins of government.
verb (used with object)
  1. to check or guide (a horse or other animal) by exerting pressure on a bridle bit by means of the reins.
  2. to curb; restrain; control.
verb (used without object)
  1. to obey the reins: a horse that reins well.
  2. to rein a horse or other animal.
Idioms
  1. to curtail one's speed or progress; halt: The rider saw the snake and drew rein sharply.
  2. to give complete freedom to; indulge freely: to give rein to one's imagination.
noun
  1. one of a pair of long straps, usually connected together and made of leather, used to control a horse, running from the side of the bit or the headstall to the hand of the rider, driver, or trainer
  2. a similar device used to control a very young child
  3. any form or means of control
  4. the direction in which a rider turns (in phrases such as on a left (or right) rein, change the rein)
  5. something that restrains, controls, or guides
  6. to allow considerable freedom; remove restraints
  7. to control carefully; limit
  8. with the reins held loosely so that the horse is relatively unconstrained
  9. to take up the reins so that the distance between hand and bit is lessened, in order that the horse may be more collected
verb
  1. to check, restrain, hold back, or halt with or as if with reins
  2. to control or guide (a horse) with a rein or reins
Rein (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

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