any of numerous agile ruminants related to sheep but having a beard and straight horns
"The farmer led his herd of goats, whose beards and straight horns made them look quite different from the nearby sheep."
a victim of ridicule or pranks
"When the pranksters hid his shoes, everyone knew he was just going to be another goat in their latest scheme."
the tenth sign of the zodiac; the sun is in this sign from about December 22 to January 19
"Leo was born under the goat, which means their birthday falls between December 22 and January 19."
A mammal, Capra aegagrus hircus, and similar species of the genus Capra.
"After being labeled a goat, the former cabinet minister joked that he finally understood Gordon Brown's unique classification system."
A member of the "government of all the talents" proposed by British prime minister Gordon Brown.
In plain English: A goat is an animal with horns and curved legs that eats grass and climbs trees easily.
"The farmer led his goat out to graze in the green pasture."
Usage: Use this word primarily as a noun referring to the domesticated animal known for its horns and beard, rather than using it metaphorically unless specifically describing someone who is stubborn or mischievous. When used in gardening contexts, remember that "goat" can also function as a verb meaning to allow these animals to graze on vegetation.
To allow goats to feed on.
"The farmer let the sheep graze in a field where they could go out and eat all the young grass."
In plain English: To goad someone is to annoy them until they get angry and react strongly.
"The old truck began to go up and down in the mud after hitting a deep rut."
The eighth of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar.
"She was born in the Year of the Goat, making her part of the eighth animal in the traditional Chinese zodiac cycle."
The word "goat" comes from Old English gāt, which traces back to Proto-Germanic and likely originated in an unknown substrate language. A related slang meaning for a lecherous man developed later from the phrase "horny as a goat."