WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
sad•dle /ˈsædəl/USA pronunciation
n., v., -dled, -dling.
n. [countable]
v.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026n. [countable]
- a seat for a rider on the back of a horse or other animal.
- Transporta similar seat on a bicycle, etc.
- something similar to a saddle in shape, position, or function.
v.
- to put a saddle on (an animal): [~ + object]They saddled their horses and rode off.[~ + up + object]They saddled up their horses and rode off.[~ + object + up]They saddled the horses up and rode off.[no object;
~ + up]They saddled up and took off. - to give to (someone), as a burden or responsibility:[~ + object + with + object]The boss saddled our staff with a lot of extra work.
- Idioms in the saddle, [uncountable]
- Idiomsin a position to direct.
- Idiomsat work;
on the job:back in the saddle after my illness.
sad•dle
(sad′l),USA pronunciation n., v., -dled, -dling.
n.
v.t.
v.i.
sad′dle•less, adj.
sad′dle•like′, adj.
n.
- a seat for a rider on the back of a horse or other animal.
- Transporta similar seat on a bicycle, tractor, etc.
- a part of a harness laid across the back of an animal and girded under the belly, to which the terrets and checkhook are attached. See illus. under harness.
- something resembling a saddle in shape, position, or function.
- the part of the back of an animal where a saddle is placed.
- Food
- (of mutton, venison, lamb, etc.) a cut comprising both loins.
- this cut, trimmed and prepared for roasting.
- (of poultry) the posterior part of the back.
- Geographya ridge connecting two higher elevations.
- Buildingthe covering of a roof ridge.
- bolster (def. 7).
- Buildinga raised piece of flooring between the jambs of a doorway.
- an inverted bracket bearing on the axle of a railroad car wheel as a support for the car body.
- Military[Ordn.]the support for the trunnion on some gun carriages.
- Mechanical Engineering[Mach.]a sliding part for spanning a space or other parts to support something else, as the cross slide and toolholder of a lathe.
- Clothinga strip of leather, often of a contrasting color, sewn on the vamp or instep of a shoe and extending to each side of the shank.
- ClothingSee saddle shoe.
- Ceramicsa bar of refractory clay, triangular in section, for supporting one side of an object being fired.
- Civil Engineering(in a suspension bridge) a member at the top of a tower for supporting a cable.
- in the saddle:
- Idiomsin a position to direct or command;
in control. - Idiomsat work;
on the job.
- Idiomsin a position to direct or command;
v.t.
- to put a saddle on:to saddle a horse.
- to load or charge, as with a burden:He has saddled himself with a houseful of impecunious relatives.
- to impose as a burden or responsibility.
v.i.
- to put a saddle on a horse (often fol. by up).
- to mount into the saddle (often fol. by up).
- bef. 900; (noun, nominal) Middle English sadel, Old English sadol; cognate with German Sattel, Old Norse sǫthull; (verb, verbal) Middle English sad(e)len, Old English sadolian, derivative of the noun, nominal; akin to sit1
sad′dle•like′, adj.
'in the saddle' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):