mule

mule — noun

1. A strong working animal produced by crossing a horse with a donkey. Mules are us

1.名詞B1
釋義

A strong working animal produced by crossing a horse with a donkey. Mules are used around the world to carry heavy loads over rocky or mountainous ground.

例句

Imran loaded the supplies onto the mule before the mountain trip.

collocation: load onto a mule

The narrow path was too steep for a truck, so the farmer used a mule.

同義詞
  • donkey

    a separate species (Equus africanus asinus); mules are hybrids, not a pure species like donkeys

  • hinny

    the opposite cross (male horse × female donkey); hinnies are smaller and less common than mules

常見錯誤

❌The mule is a type of horse.
✅The mule is a cross between a female horse and a male donkey.
💡A mule is a hybrid animal, not a breed of horse.

2. A person who transports illegal drugs across national borders in exchange for pa

2.名詞B2
釋義

A person who transports illegal drugs across national borders in exchange for payment, often by hiding the drugs on or inside their body.

例句

Customs officers arrested a mule at the airport with cocaine hidden in her luggage.

Karim agreed to work as a mule to pay off his large debts.

reason for becoming a mule

同義詞
  • courier

    a neutral term for someone who carries messages or packages; 'mule' carries the specific criminal connotation of drug smuggling

  • smuggler

    broader — refers to anyone who moves goods illegally across borders, not only drugs

  • trafficker

    usually refers to the organiser of illegal trade, not the low-level carrier

用法筆記

This sense appears frequently in news reporting about drug trafficking. The word mule focuses on the person physically carrying the drugs, not the organisers or dealers who run the operation.

常見錯誤

❌The police arrested the mule who sold drugs on the street.
✅The police arrested the mule who was carrying drugs through the airport.
💡A mule transports drugs across borders; a street-level dealer is not called a mule.

3. A women's shoe with no covering at the back of the heel, worn as a light indoor

3.名詞B1
釋義

A women's shoe with no covering at the back of the heel, worn as a light indoor shoe or in warm weather.

例句

Nellie slipped on a pair of black mules before heading out to the garden.

verb collocation: slip on mules

Leather mules with a small heel are very popular in warm weather.

同義詞
  • slipper

    a general term for indoor shoes; mules are a specific style of backless slipper

  • slide

    similar to a mule but often with a thicker sole and a sporty look

  • clog

    has a back or an ankle strap and a thicker wooden or cork sole, unlike mules

用法筆記

In fashion contexts, the plural form mules (e.g. 'a pair of mules') is common. This sense refers specifically to backless shoes, not to be confused with slides or clogs.

常見錯誤

❌She put on mules and ran to catch the bus.
✅She put on mules to relax at home after work.
💡Mules have no back strap and can easily slip off, so they are not suitable for running or fast walking.