saddle

/ˈsædl/

/ˈsædəl/

Other forms: saddled; saddles; saddling

A saddle is a leather seat for horseback riders. If you saddle something, you either put a saddle on it or you burden it with something else. If you buy an expensive saddle for example. you may be saddled (or burdened) with debt.

A saddle makes a horse's rider more comfortable and secure — and if you ever ride a camel, you'll also sit on a saddle. As a verb, to saddle means "to put a saddle on an animal," although it also has the figurative meaning of "to burden." Your excessive spending might saddle you with debt, or your position as the oldest of eight siblings could saddle you with too much responsibility.

Definitions of saddle

1. noun

   a seat for the rider of a horse or camel
   types:

   English cavalry saddle, English saddle

   a saddle having a steel cantle and pommel and no horn

   packsaddle

   a saddle for pack animals to which loads can be attached

   sidesaddle

   a saddle for a woman; rider sits with both feet on the same side of the horse

   Western saddle, stock saddle

   an ornamented saddle used by cowboys; has a high horn to hold the lariat

   type of:

   seat

   any support where you can sit (especially the part of a chair or bench etc. on which you sit)
2. noun

   a seat for the rider of a bicycle
   synonyms: bicycle seat

   type of:

   seat

   any support where you can sit (especially the part of a chair or bench etc. on which you sit)
3. noun

   a piece of leather across the instep of a shoe
   type of:

   piece of leather

   a separate part consisting of leather
4. noun

   cut of meat (especially mutton or lamb) consisting of part of the backbone and both loins
   type of:

   cut, cut of meat

   a piece of meat that has been cut from an animal carcass
5. noun

   posterior part of the back of a domestic fowl
   type of:

   body part

   any part of an organism such as an organ or extremity
6. noun

   a pass or ridge that slopes gently between two peaks (is shaped like a saddle)
   synonyms: saddleback

   type of:

   mountain pass, notch, pass

   the location in a range of mountains of a geological formation that is lower than the surrounding peaks
7. verb

   put a saddle on
   “saddle the horses”

   antonyms:

   unsaddle

   remove the saddle from

   type of:

   attach

   cause to be attached
8. verb

   load or burden; encumber
   “he saddled me with that heavy responsibility”

   type of:

   burden, burthen, weight, weight down

   weight down with a load
9. verb

   impose a task upon, assign a responsibility to
   synonyms: burden, charge

   types:

   overburden

   burden with too much work or responsibility

   bear down

   exert a force or cause a strain upon

   deluge, flood out, overwhelm

   charge someone with too many tasks

   adjure

   command solemnly

   type of:

   command, require

   make someone do something