harness
gb/hˈɑɹnɪs/ us/hˈɑɹnɪs/
B2
English
~ 7300
hasznosít, kiaknáz, biztonsági hevederzet, biztonsági hám, beköt, befog, hámot ad rá, kábelköteg, kábelkorbács, vezetékköteg
VERB
B2
1
Usage pattern:
to harness [resource/quality] for [purpose]
The company is trying to harness solar energy to power its factories.
A vállalat megpróbálja hasznosítani a napenergiát, hogy árammal lássa el a gyárait.
If we can harness the creativity of our team, we can solve this problem.
Ha ki tudjuk aknázni a csapatunk kreativitását, meg tudjuk oldani ezt a problémát.
New technology allows farmers to harness data from sensors in their fields.
The campaign seeks to harness public anger and turn it into political action.
Researchers are working to harness the power of AI for medical diagnosis.
Learner examples
We must harness the wind to make clean power.
Hasznosítanunk kell a szelet, hogy tiszta energiát termeljünk.
The teacher wants to harness the students' interest in games for learning.
A tanár a diákok játékok iránti érdeklődését szeretné hasznosítani a tanulásban.
Many apps harness data from your phone to give you advice.
This machine harnesses water power to make electricity.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "harness" with everyday physical objects (e.g., *harness a pen*, *harness a chair*), but it is usually used with abstract or large-scale things like energy, power, technology, data, or people's skills. Another mistake is using the wrong preposition; it commonly appears as "harness [something] for/to [a purpose]".
Meaning
control and use a resource
Collocations
harness energy
|harness power
|harness technology
|harness the potential
|harness data
|harness creativity
Synonyms
use (More general and basic; does not include the idea of careful control in the same strong way as "harness".)
|
exploit (Suggests using something fully, sometimes with a negative or selfish feeling that "harness" does not always have.)
|
utilize (More formal and technical; similar meaning but less vivid than "harness".)
Antonyms
waste (If you do not harness a resource, you may waste it by not using it well.)
|
neglect (To neglect a resource is to fail to pay attention and use it, the opposite of carefully harnessing it.)
Themes
work
|technology
|environment
|business
|science
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To control and use something like energy, power, or ideas so it helps you do a job or reach a goal.
To control and direct a natural force, quality, or resource so that it can be used effectively for a particular purpose.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
a harness for [person/animal/activity]
Make sure your climbing harness is fitted correctly before you go up.
Mielőtt felmászol, győződj meg róla, hogy a mászóhevedered megfelelően van beállítva.
The guide helped the child into a safety harness before the zip line.
A vezető a kötélpályás csúszás előtt segített ráadni a gyerekre a biztonsági hevederzetet.
We bought a new harness so our dog would not pull so hard on walks.
The workers wear a harness when they clean the windows of tall buildings.
Each horse was fitted with a leather harness to pull the carriage.
Learner examples
The man put on his safety harness before he climbed the tower.
A férfi felvette a biztonsági hevederzetét, mielőtt felmászott a toronyra.
She checked the harness on the baby seat.
Ellenőrizte a babaülés biztonsági pántjait.
They used a strong harness for the big dog.
The horse wore a harness to pull the cart.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "harness" with "helmet" or "seat belt". A harness is usually a system of several straps, often around the chest, shoulders, and legs, not just something for the head or a single belt.
Meaning
set of straps for safety/control
Collocations
safety harness
|climbing harness
|seat harness
|dog harness
|child harness
|put on a harness
Synonyms
safety belt (Similar in function but usually refers specifically to a single belt in a car or plane, while a harness is a more complex system of straps.)
|
restraint (General word for something that holds or limits movement; less specific than "harness" and can sound more formal or technical.)
Antonyms
freedom (Being free to move without straps or control is the opposite state of being held in a harness.)
|
leash-free (Used especially for dogs; describes the opposite situation of being held by straps or a harness.)
Themes
travel
|sports
|safety
|animals
|daily_life
|transportation
Definition
Strong straps and belts fixed around a person or animal to keep them safe or to control or pull something.
A set of connected straps and fittings placed around a person or animal to hold them securely or to control their movement, often for safety or to pull something.
VERB
C1
3
Usage pattern:
to harness [animal/person] (to [vehicle/rope])
They harnessed the horses to the wagon at sunrise.
Napkeltekor befogták a lovakat a szekér elé.
The instructor carefully harnessed each climber before the lesson began.
Az oktató az óra kezdete előtt gondosan bekötötte az összes mászót.
Workers must be harnessed to a safety line when they are on the roof.
She harnessed the dog to a small sled for the children.
Before the race, the mushers harnessed their dogs in a long line.
Learner examples
The farmer harnessed the horse to the cart.
A gazda befogta a lovat a kocsi elé.
The man harnessed himself to the rope before he went down the wall.
A férfi bekötötte magát a kötélhez, mielőtt leereszkedett a falon.
The guide harnessed the children before the ride started.
They harnessed the dogs so they could pull the sled.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use this physical sense when the abstract sense is needed, for example *harness people to do more work* instead of "motivate" or "encourage". In the literal sense, it should involve an actual harness with straps, not just any kind of connection.
Meaning
put a harness on
Collocations
harness the horse
|harness the dogs
|harness a worker to a safety line
|harness the mule to the cart
|properly harness [someone]
|securely harness [someone]
Synonyms
strap in (Informal and common for people in cars or rides; focuses more on fastening than on a full harness system.)
|
yoke (Traditional term for joining animals to pull something; more specific to farm animals and more old-fashioned than "harness".)
Antonyms
unharness (Direct opposite: to remove a harness or detach from equipment or a vehicle.)
|
unclip (Focuses on releasing clips or fasteners, undoing part of what is done when you harness someone or something.)
Themes
animals
|travel
|sports
|safety
|daily_life
|transportation
Definition
To place a harness on a person or animal and sometimes tie or fix it to something.
To put a harness on a person or animal and, often, connect them to a rope, vehicle, or piece of equipment.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
4
Usage pattern:
a wiring harness for [device/vehicle]
A damaged wiring harness can cause multiple electrical failures in the car.
Egy sérült kábelköteg többféle elektromos hibát is okozhat az autóban.
The technician replaced the engine harness during the repair.
A szerelő a javítás során kicserélte a motor kábelkötegét.
All the sensors are connected through a single cable harness that runs under the floor.
The new design simplifies the harness to reduce manufacturing costs.
Learner examples
The mechanic said the wiring harness in my car was broken.
A szerelő azt mondta, hogy meghibásodott az autóm kábelkötege.
Many wires are tied together in one harness.
Sok vezeték van egyetlen kábelkötegbe összefogva.
They checked the harness when the lights in the car failed.
Engineers designed a new harness for the computer system.
Meaning
bundled set of wires
Collocations
wiring harness
|cable harness
|electrical harness
|engine wiring harness
|replace the harness
|install the harness
Synonyms
wiring loom (Technical term used in some industries; similar meaning but more specialized jargon than "wiring harness".)
|
cable bundle (More descriptive and less technical; does not always imply the organized, designed structure of a harness.)
Antonyms
single wire (Contrasts with a complex, organized group of wires; not an exact lexical antonym but the simplest opposite configuration.)
Themes
technology
|engineering
|transport
|science
|transportation
Definition
In machines and cars, a group of wires tied together that sends power or signals to different parts.
In engineering, especially in vehicles and machines, a structured bundle of wires, cables, and connectors that carries electrical power or signals between components.
Grammar
Dictionary form
harness
IPA
GB/hˈɑɹnɪs/
US/hˈɑɹnɪs/
Syllables & stress
har - ness (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (har)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: harness
- Plural: harness, harnesses
Verb
- Base: harness
- 3rd Person Singular: harnesses
- Present Participle: harnessing
- Past: harnessed
Word family
Forms
harnesses
noun
harnessing
verb
harnessed
verb
Negative and opposite forms
unharness
verb
Expressions
back in harness
1/bˈæk ˈɪn hˈɑɹnɪs/
idiom
returning to one's usual work
Working in your normal job again after some time away, such as a holiday, illness, or break.
Examples
- Our manager is back in harness after her maternity leave.
- School starts tomorrow, so the teachers will be back in harness.
- After a year of travel, he's finally back in harness at his old firm.
in harness
1/ˈɪn hˈɑɹnɪs/
idiom
actively doing one's usual work
Working in your normal job or role, especially after a break or as part of a team.
Examples
- After a long holiday, she's back in harness at the office.
- The two researchers are once again in harness on a new project.
- He prefers to stay in harness rather than retire early.
in harness with
1/ˈɪn hˈɑɹnɪs wˈɪθ/
fixed phrase
working closely with someone
Working closely together with another person or group on the same job or project.
Examples
- The charity is working in harness with local schools to support children.
- The two departments must act in harness with each other to make the plan succeed.
- Small businesses often operate in harness with larger partners to reach new markets.