Hearse - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A hearse is a vehicle, often a long black car, used to transport a coffin or casket during a funeral procession. It is associated with solemn ceremonies and mourning.
Definition:
A vehicle used to carry a coffin during a funeral procession.
Synonyms:
funeral car, mortuary van, burial vehicle
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
ambulance, wedding car
Common Collocations:
funeral hearse, black hearse, horse-drawn hearse, motorized hearse
Derivatives:
hearselike, hearseless
Usage Tips:
Use "hearse" to refer specifically to a vehicle transporting a coffin; avoid using it for other types of vehicles.
Common Phrases:
follow the hearse, hearse procession, slow as a hearse
Etymology:
From Old French "herce" (harrow), later referring to a framework for holding candles over a coffin.
Examples:
- 1. The hearse moved slowly through the town.
- 2. A black hearse carried the casket to the cemetery.
- 3. The family walked behind the horse-drawn hearse.
- 4. Flowers adorned the sides of the gleaming hearse.