nose

American  

[nohz] / noʊz /

noun

1. the part of the face or facial region in humans and certain animals that contains the nostrils and the organs of smell and functions as the usual passageway for air in respiration: in humans it is a prominence in the center of the face formed of bone and cartilage, serving also to modify or modulate the voice.

2. this part as the organ of smell.

3. the sense of smell.

   fragrances appealing to the nose.

4. anything regarded as resembling the nose of a person or animal, as a spout or nozzle.

5. the prow of a ship.

6. the forward end of an aircraft.

7. the forward edge of the head of a golf club.

8. a projecting part of anything.

   the nose of a pair of pliers.

9. a faculty of perceiving or detecting.

   to have a nose for news.

10. the human nose regarded as a symbol of meddling or prying.

    Why can't he keep his nose out of my business?

11. the length of a nose.

    The horse won the race by a nose.

12. the bouquet of an alcoholic drink, especially the distinctive aroma of a wine.

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verb (used with object)

nosed, nosing

1. to perceive by or as by the nose or the sense of smell.

   a cheese that could be nosed at some distance.

2. to approach the nose to, as in smelling or examining; sniff.

3. to move or push forward with or as with the nose.

   The dog nosed its pup back into the yard. The boat nosed its way toward shore.

4. to touch or rub with the nose; nuzzle.

verb (used without object)

nosed, nosing

1. to smell or sniff.

2. to seek as if by smelling or scent.

   The dogs nosed after their quarry.

3. to move or push forward.

   to nose into the wind.

4. to meddle or pry (often followed by about, into, etc.).

   They are always nosing about in other people's business.

verb phrase

1. nose out

   1. to defeat, especially by a narrow margin.

      The other candidates had been nosed out in the final returns.

   2. to learn or discover, especially by snooping or prying.

      to nose out a secret.

idioms

1. count noses,  to count the number of people in attendance.

   Each time the troop left an exhibit the leader counted noses.

2. on the nose,

   1. precisely, correctly, or perfectly.

   2. exactly on time.

      We made it at ten o'clock on the nose.

   3. (of a bet) for win only.

   4. Australian Informal.  decayed or putrid; stinking.

   5. Australian Informal.  distasteful or unpleasant; of doubtful validity or propriety.

3. hold one's nose,  to repress feelings of distaste, repulsion, or offense for something that one is obliged to do.

   He held his nose and voted for the bill.

4. follow one's nose,

   1. to go forward in a straight course.

   2. to guide oneself by instinct.

      I found the house by following my nose.

5. look down one's nose at,  to regard with disdain or condescension.

   He had always looked down his nose at those who were poorer than he.

6. cut off one's nose to spite one's face,  to create a disadvantage to oneself through one's own spiteful action.

7. rub someone's nose in,  to persecute or tease someone persistently about; nag someone about.

   I know I was wrong but you don't have to rub my nose in it.

8. pay through the nose,  to pay an excessive price.

   They patronize small and exclusive shops where they cheerfully pay through the nose.

9. keep one's nose clean,  to behave oneself; avoid trouble or scandal.

   Did he keep his nose clean after he got out of prison?

10. keep one's nose to the grindstone.  grindstone.

11. lead (around) by the nose,  to exercise complete control over; dominate totally.

    He lets his brother lead him by the nose.

12. turn up one's nose at,  to regard with contempt; scorn.

    My friend turns up his nose at anyone who hasn't had a college education.

13. under someone's nose,  plainly visible to; in full view of; in bold defiance of: Also under someone's very nose.

    The theft took place right under the detective's nose.

14. put someone's nose out of joint,

    1. to annoy or irritate greatly.

    2. to supersede a person in another's regard, devotion, etc.

    3. to thwart someone; spoil someone's plans.

nose British  

/ nəʊz /

noun

1. the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract, consisting of a prominent structure divided into two hair-lined air passages by a median septum

2. the sense of smell itself: in hounds and other animals, the ability to follow trails by scent (esp in the phrases a good nose , a bad nose )

3. another word for bouquet

4. instinctive skill or facility, esp in discovering things (sometimes in the phrase follow one's nose )

   he had a nose for good news stories

5. any part regarded as resembling a nose in form or function, such as a nozzle or spout

6. the forward part of a vehicle, aircraft, etc, esp the front end of an aircraft

7. narrow margin of victory (in the phrase ( win ) by a nose )

8. to carry out a vengeful action that hurts oneself more than another

9. informal  to annoy or irritate someone

10. to stay out of trouble; behave properly

11. to work hard and continuously

12. to make someone do unquestioningly all one wishes; dominate someone

13. informal  to be contemptuous or disdainful of

14. (of vehicles) moving or standing very close behind one another

15. slang

    1. (in horse-race betting) to win only

       I bet twenty pounds on the nose on that horse

    2. precisely; exactly

    3. bad or bad-smelling

16. informal  to pay an exorbitant price

17. informal  to pry into or interfere in

18. informal  to thwart or offend someone, esp by supplanting him or gaining something he regards as his

19. informal  to remind someone unkindly of his failing or error

20. informal

    1. to be short-sighted; suffer from myopia

    2. to lack insight or foresight

21. informal  to behave disdainfully towards (something)

22. 1. directly in front of one

    2. without one noticing

23. haughtily

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verb

1. (tr) (esp of horses, dogs, etc) to rub, touch, or sniff with the nose; nuzzle

2. to smell or sniff (wine, etc)

3. (intr; usually foll by after or for) to search (for) by or as if by scent

4. to move or cause to move forwards slowly and carefully

   the car nosed along the cliff top

   we nosed the car into the garage

5. (intr; foll by into, around, about, etc) to pry or snoop (into) or meddle (in)

nose More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing nose

• brown nose
• can't see beyond the end of one's nose
• count noses
• cut off one's nose
• follow one's nose
• keep one's nose clean
• lead by the nose
• look down on (one's nose)
• no skin off my nose
• on the nose
• pay through the nose
• plain as day (the nose on your face)
• poke one's nose into
• rub someone's nose in it
• thumb one's nose
• turn up one's nose
• under one's nose
• win by a nose

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Other Word Forms

• noseless adjective
• noselike adjective
• unnosed adjective

Etymology

Origin of nose

before 900; Middle English (noun); Old English nosu; akin to Dutch neus, German Nase, Latin nāsus, Sanskrit nāsā

Example Sentences

Getting there by car involved a treacherous 10-hour drive past trucks with their noses down in ditches.

From The Wall Street Journal

With wide eyes, small noses and bigger, rounder heads, a brachy dog’s face “is far more human than, say, a Labrador’s,” said Packer.

From The Wall Street Journal

After a laborious setup of some 40 minutes, Blanc finally starts nosing around the scene.

From The Wall Street Journal

The eventual tax savings are still substantial, and if you don’t take advantage, it’s like “cutting off your nose to spite your face,” says Bethany Dever, a certified financial planner at Rockland Trust.

From Barron's

His nose had been fractured at some point and he suffered from arthritis, police said at the time.

From BBC

Related Words

• pry
• sniff
• snoop