Definition

1. Noun:
   • A racehorse that is three years old: Specifically refers to a horse that has reached the age of three and is eligible to compete in designated races for that age group in thoroughbred horse racing.

Usage

• The term "three year old" is used as a countable noun, typically in the context of horse racing, equestrian sports, and breeding. It specifies the age class of the horse for competition purposes.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The Kentucky Derby is a famous race for three year olds.
  • Their stable has a promising three year old that might win the classic races this season.

Advanced Usage

• As a modifier: The term can function as a compound adjective before another noun.
  • He is a three-year-old colt. (Note the use of hyphens when used as an adjective before a noun.)
• In broader contexts: While the specific definition relates to racehorses, the phrase "three-year-old" (with hyphens) is commonly used in general English to describe any person, animal, or thing of that age.
  • My three-year-old daughter started preschool. (This is a different, more general usage of the hyphenated adjectival form.)

Variants and Related Words

• Three-year-old (adj): The hyphenated form used as an adjective to describe something that is three years in age.
• Yearling (n): A racehorse that is one year old.
• Two-year-old (n): A racehorse that is two years old.
• Colt: A young male horse, especially one under four or five years old.
• Filly: A young female horse, especially one under four or five years old.

Synonyms

• Sophomore (n): In some specific horse racing contexts, this can informally refer to a three-year-old horse, especially in its second year of racing. (Note: This is a less common and more contextual synonym.)

Notes

• In the strict definition provided (from WordNet), "three year old" is a noun pertaining specifically to a racehorse. The general term for any child or animal of that age is the hyphenated "three-year-old," which functions primarily as an adjective but can be used nominally (e.g., "I have a three-year-old").

Noun

1. a racehorse that is three years old