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# mule

noun (a mule, mules)

«mule» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. An animal whose mother is a horse and father is a donkey; it is strong and used for carrying loads. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mule/#m1)
2. (informal) A very stubborn person: stubborn as a mule. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mule/#m2)
3. A slipper or shoe with no back. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mule/#m3)
4. (slang) A person who carries illegal drugs or money across borders for criminals. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mule/#m4)

### In the lessons

In science lessons mules are an example of a hybrid (a cross between two kinds of animal); mules usually cannot have babies. In history and geography, mules carry loads on mountain paths. In everyday talk «stubborn as a mule». The criminal sense appears in news and safety warnings. Phrases: stubborn as a mule, mule track.

### Examples

- The mule carried our bags up the mountain path. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mule/#x1)
- A mule is a cross between a horse and a donkey. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mule/#x2)
- He's as stubborn as a mule and won't change his mind. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mule/#x3)
- Mules are strong and sure-footed. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mule/#x4)
- Mum wears her fluffy mules around the house. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mule/#x5)
- The police caught the drug mule at the airport. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mule/#x6)
- Most mules cannot have foals. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mule/#x7)
- The farmer ploughed the field with a mule. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mule/#x8)
- “What’s bridle-wise?” said the young mule. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mule/#x9)

### Note

Countable: mules. Science: a mule's father is a donkey and mother a horse; the opposite cross is a hinny. Safety: never agree to carry a package for a stranger.

## In Jewish tradition

A mule is a strong animal used for riding and carrying loads. Kings and princes rode them.

**Interpretation.** Mules were a sign of royalty, as when David's sons rode them. The law forbids breeding two different kinds of animals together, so Jews were not to breed mules.

### Examples

- Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five; (Writings EZR.2.66, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/mule/#x1)
- They of the house of Togarmah traded for thy wares with horses and horsemen and mules. (Prophets EZK.27.14, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/mule/#x2)
- Then all the king's sons arose, and every man got him up upon his mule, and fled. (Prophets 2SA.13.29, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/mule/#x3)

### Note

Countable: mules. Science: a mule's father is a donkey and mother a horse; the opposite cross is a hinny. Safety: never agree to carry a package for a stranger.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «mule» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mule/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«mule» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/mule.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «mule» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/mule/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«mule» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/mule.html) on Mova free.