ass
1 of 3noun (1)
ˈas 
1
: any of several hardy gregarious (see gregarious sense 1a) African or Asian perissodactyl mammals (genus Equus) smaller than the horse and having long ears
especially : an African mammal (E. asinus) that is the ancestor of the donkey
2
informal + impolite : a stupid, stubborn, or detestable person
a pompous ass
made an ass of himself
He was an ass to her, dissing her script (which he apparently lost), telling her women couldn't be artists and that she looked so much prettier with makeup on.
Lauren Piester
—often compounded with a preceding adjective Lauren Piester Don't be a smart-ass.
ass
2 of 3noun (2)
ˈas
variants or arse
ˈas,
ˈärs 1
a
informal + impolite : buttocks —often used in emphatic reference to a specific person
Get your ass over here.saved my ass
b
informal + impolite : anus
2
offensive : sexual intercourse
ass
3 of 3adverb
informal + impolite
—used as a postpositive intensive especially with words of derogatory implication
fancy-ass
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- burro
- donkey
- jackass
- moke [British slang]
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English, from Old English assa, probably from Old Irish asan, from Latin asinus
Noun (2) and Adverb
Middle English ars, ers, from Old English ærs, ears; akin to Old High German & Old Norse ars buttocks, Greek orrhos buttocks, oura tail
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adverb
circa 1920, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
ass
noun
ˈas
1
: an animal that looks like but is smaller than the related horse and has shorter hair in the mane and tail and longer ears : donkey
2
: a stupid or stubborn person
Hint: Sense 2 of the word is often considered impolite, and you may offend people by using it.
ass
noun
as in donkey
a sturdy and patient domestic mammal that is used especially to carry things the farm kept a few asses for hauling hay in and out of the field Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- donkey
- mule
- jackass
- burro
- moke
- jenny
- hinny
- jack
- jennet
- pack animal
