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head
1[ hed ]
noun
- the upper part of the body in humans, joined to the torso by the neck and containing the brain, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
Antonyms: foot
- the upper part of the body in animals, often joined to the torso by the neck and containing the brain, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
She has a good head for mathematics.
Keep a cool head in an emergency.
- the position or place of leadership, greatest authority, or honor.
- a person to whom others are subordinate, as the director of an institution or the manager of a department; leader or chief.
Synonyms: chairperson, president, superintendent, principal, boss, superior, commander
- a person considered with reference to their mind, disposition, attributes, status, etc.:
wise heads;
crowned heads.
- that part of anything that forms or is regarded as forming the top, summit, or upper end:
head of a pin;
head of a page.
- the foremost part or front end of anything or a forward projecting part:
head of a procession.
- the part of a weapon, tool, etc., used for striking:
the head of a hammer.
- a person or animal considered merely as one of a number, herd, or group:
ten head of cattle;
a dinner at $20 a head.
- a culminating point, usually of a critical nature; crisis or climax:
to bring matters to a head.
- the hair covering the head:
to wash one's head.
- froth or foam at the top of a liquid:
the head on beer.
- Botany.
- any dense flower cluster or inflorescence.
- any other compact part of a plant, usually at the top of the stem, as that composed of leaves in the cabbage or lettuce, of leafstalks in the celery, or of flower buds in the cauliflower.
- the maturated part of an abscess, boil, etc.
- a projecting point of a coast, especially when high, as a cape, headland, or promontory.
- the obverse of a coin, as bearing a head or other principal figure ( tail ).
- one of the chief parts or points of a written or oral discourse; a main division of a subject, theme, or topic.
- something resembling a head in form or a representation of a head, as a piece of sculpture.
- the source of a river or stream.
- Slang.
- a habitual user of a drug, especially LSD or marijuana (often used in combination):
the feds versus the heads; an acid-head; a meth head; a pothead.
- a fan or devotee (usually used in combination):
a punk-rock head.
- heads, Distilling. alcohol produced during the initial fermentation. Compare tail 1( def 6d ).
- a toilet or lavatory, especially on a boat or ship.
- Nautical.
- the forepart of a vessel; bow.
- the upper edge of a quadrilateral sail.
- the upper corner of a jib-headed sail.
- that part of the upper end of one spar of a mast that is overlapped by a spar above; a doubling at the upper end of a spar.
- that part of the upper end of a mast between the highest standing rigging and the truck.
- Grammar.
- the member of an endocentric construction that belongs to the same form class and may play the same grammatical role as the construction itself.
- the member upon which another depends and to which it is subordinate: in former presidents, presidents is head and former is modifier.
- the stretched membrane covering the end of a drum or similar musical instrument.
- Mining. a level or road driven into solid coal for proving or working a mine.
- Machinery. any of various devices on machine tools for holding, moving, indexing, or changing tools or work, as the headstock or turret of a lathe.
- Railroads. railhead ( def 3 ).
- (loosely) the pressure exerted by confined fluid:
a head of steam.
- Also called pressure head. Hydraulics.
- the vertical distance between two points in a liquid, as water, or some other fluid.
- the pressure differential resulting from this separation, expressed in terms of the vertical distance between the points.
- the pressure of a fluid expressed in terms of the height of a column of liquid yielding an equivalent pressure.
- Also called magnetic head. Electronics. the part or parts of a tape recorder that record, play back, or erase magnetic signals on magnetic tape. Compare erasing head, playback head, recording head.
- Computers. read/write head.
- Photography.
- a mounting for a camera, as on a tripod.
- the part of an enlarger that contains the light source, negative carrier, lensboard, and lens.
- Slang: Vulgar. fellatio or cunnilingus.
- Archaic. power, strength, or force progressively gathered or gradually attained.
- heads up! Informal. be careful! watch out for danger!
adjective
- first in rank or position; chief; leading; principal:
a head official.
Synonyms: main, supreme, foremost, cardinal
Antonyms: subordinate
- of, relating to, or for the head (often used in combination):
head covering;
headgear;
headpiece.
- situated at the top, front, or head of anything (often used in combination):
headline;
headboard.
- moving or coming from a direction in front of the head or prow of a vessel:
head sea;
head tide;
head current.
- Slang. of or relating to drugs, drug paraphernalia, or drug users.
verb (used with object)
- to go at the head of or in front of; lead; precede:
to head a list.
- to outdo or excel; take the lead in or over:
to head a race;
to head one's competitors in a field.
- to be the head or chief of (sometimes followed by up ): to head up a department.
to head a school;
to head up a department.
- to direct the course of; turn the head or front of in a specified direction:
I'll head the boat for the shore. Head me in the right direction and I'll walk to the store.
- to go around the head of (a stream).
- to furnish or fit with a head.
- to take the head off; decapitate; behead.
- to remove the upper branches of (a tree).
- Fox Hunting. to turn aside (a fox) from its intended course.
- to get in front of in order to stop, turn aside, attack, etc.
- Soccer. to propel (the ball) by striking it with the head, especially with the forehead.
verb (used without object)
- to move forward toward a point specified; direct one's course; go in a certain direction:
to head toward town.
- to come or grow to a head; form a head:
Cabbage heads quickly.
- (of a river or stream) to have the head or source where specified.
verb phrase
- to go before in order to hinder the progress of; intercept:
The police headed off the fleeing driver at a railroad crossing.
Head
2[ hed ]
noun
- Edith, 1897–1981, U.S. costume designer.
-head
3- a native English suffix meaning “state of being” ( godhead; maidenhead ), occurring in words now mostly archaic or obsolete, many being superseded by forms in -hood.
head
1/ hɛd /
noun
- the upper or front part of the body in vertebrates, including man, that contains and protects the brain, eyes, mouth, and nose and ears when present cephalic
- the corresponding part of an invertebrate animal
- something resembling a head in form or function, such as the top of a tool
- the person commanding most authority within a group, organization, etc
- ( as modifier )
head buyer
- ( in combination )
headmaster
- the position of leadership or command
at the head of his class
- the most forward part of a thing; a part that juts out; front
the head of a queue
- ( as modifier )
head point
- the highest part of a thing; upper end
the head of the pass
- the froth on the top of a glass of beer
- aptitude, intelligence, and emotions (esp in the phrases above or over one's head, have a head for, keep one's head, lose one's head, etc)
a wise old head
she has a good head for figures
- head a person or animal considered as a unit
the show was two pounds per head
six hundred head of cattle
- the head considered as a measure of length or height
he's a head taller than his mother
- botany
- a dense inflorescence such as that of the daisy and other composite plants
- any other compact terminal part of a plant, such as the leaves of a cabbage or lettuce
- a culmination or crisis (esp in the phrase bring or come to a head )
- the pus-filled tip or central part of a pimple, boil, etc
- the head considered as the part of the body on which hair grows densely
a fine head of hair
- the source or origin of a river or stream
- capital when part of name a headland or promontory, esp a high one
- the obverse of a coin, usually bearing a portrait of the head or a full figure of a monarch, deity, etc Compare tail 1
- a main point or division of an argument, discourse, etc
- often plural the headline at the top of a newspaper article or the heading of a section within an article
- nautical
- the front part of a ship or boat
- (in sailing ships) the upper corner or edge of a sail
- the top of any spar or derrick
- any vertical timber cut to shape
- often plural a slang word for lavatory
- grammar another word for governor
- the taut membrane of a drum, tambourine, etc
- the height of the surface of liquid above a specific point, esp when considered or used as a measure of the pressure at that point
a head of four feet
- pressure of water, caused by height or velocity, measured in terms of a vertical column of water
- any pressure
a head of steam in the boiler
- slang.
- a person who regularly takes drugs, esp LSD or cannabis
- ( in combination )
an acidhead
a pothead
- mining a road driven into the coal face
- the terminal point of a route
- ( in combination )
railhead
- a device on a turning or boring machine, such as a lathe, that is equipped with one or more cutting tools held to the work by this device
- See cylinder head
- an electromagnet that can read, write, or erase information on a magnetic medium such as a magnetic tape, disk, or drum, used in computers, tape recorders, etc
- informal.short for headmaster headmistress
- the head of a horse considered as a narrow margin in the outcome of a race (in the phrase win by a head )
- any narrow margin of victory (in the phrase ( win ) by a head )
- informal.short for headache
- curling the stones lying in the house after all 16 have been played
- bowls the jack and the bowls that have been played considered together as a target area
- against the headrugby from the opposing side's put-in to the scrum
- bite someone's head off or snap someone's head offto speak sharply and angrily to someone
- bring or come to a head
- to bring or be brought to a crisis
matters came to a head
- (of a boil) to cause to be or be about to burst
- get it into one's headto come to believe (an idea, esp a whimsical one)
he got it into his head that the earth was flat
- give head slang.to perform fellatio
- give someone his headto allow a person greater freedom or responsibility
- give a horse its headto allow a horse to gallop by lengthening the reins
- go to one's head
- to make one dizzy or confused, as might an alcoholic drink
- to make one conceited
his success has gone to his head
- head and shoulders abovegreatly superior to
- head over heels
- turning a complete somersault
- completely; utterly (esp in the phrase head over heels in love )
- hold up one's headto be unashamed
- keep one's headto remain calm
- keep one's head above waterto manage to survive a difficult experience
- make headto make progress
- make head or tail ofused with a negative to attempt to understand (a problem, etc)
he couldn't make head or tail of the case
- off one's head or out of one's head slang.insane or delirious
- off the top of one's headwithout previous thought; impromptu
- on one's head or on one's own headat one's (own) risk or responsibility
- one's head off slang.loudly or excessively
the baby cried its head off
- over someone's head
- without a person in the obvious position being considered, esp for promotion
the graduate was promoted over the heads of several of his seniors
- without consulting a person in the obvious position but referring to a higher authority
in making his complaint he went straight to the director, over the head of his immediate boss
- beyond a person's comprehension
- put their heads together informal.to consult together
- take it into one's headto conceive a notion, desire, or wish (to do something)
- turn headsto be so beautiful, unusual, or impressive as to attract a lot of attention
- turn something on its head or stand something on its headto treat or present something in a completely new and different way
health care which has turned orthodox medicine on its head
- turn someone's headto make someone vain, conceited, etc
verb
- tr to be at the front or top of
to head the field
- troften foll byup to be in the commanding or most important position
- often foll by for to go or cause to go (towards)
where are you heading?
- to turn or steer (a vessel) as specified
to head into the wind
- soccer to propel (the ball) by striking it with the head
- tr to provide with or be a head or heading
the quotation which heads chapter 6
to head a letter
- tr to cut the top branches or shoots off (a tree or plant)
- intr to form a head, as a boil or plant
- introften foll byin (of streams, rivers, etc) to originate or rise in
- head themto toss the coins in a game of two-up
-head
2combining_form
- indicating a person having a preoccupation as specified
breadhead
Head
3/ hɛd /
noun
- HeadEdith19071981FUSFASHION, BEAUTY, ETC: fashion designerFILMS AND TV: film maker Edith. 1907–81, US dress designer: won many Oscars for her Hollywood film costume designs
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Derived Forms
- ˈheadˌlike, adjective
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Other Words From
- head·like adjective
- mul·ti·head noun
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of head1
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Idioms and Phrases
- (down) by the head, Nautical. loaded so as to draw more water forward than aft.
- come to a head,
- to suppurate, as a boil.
- to reach a crisis; culminate:
The struggle for power came to a head.
- get one's head together, Slang. to have one's actions, thoughts, or emotions under control or in order:
If he'd get his head together, maybe he'd get to work on time.
- give head, Slang: Vulgar. to perform fellatio or cunnilingus.
- give someone his / her head, to permit someone to do as they like; allow someone freedom of choice:
She wanted to go away to college, and her parents gave her her head.
- go to someone's head,
- to make someone dizzy or drunk; overcome one with excitement:
Power went to his head. The brandy went to his head.
- to make someone conceited or self-important:
Success went to his head.
- hang one's head, to become dejected or ashamed: Also hide one's head.
When he realized what an unkind thing he had done, he hung his head in shame.
- have one’s head screwed on right / straight, Informal. to be sensible or rational: Also have one’s head on rightstraight.
It seems like these young people have their heads screwed on right and that our future is in great hands.
- head and shoulders,
- far better, more qualified, etc.; superior:
In intelligence, he was head and shoulders above the rest of the children in the class.
- Archaic. by force.
- head over heels,
- headlong, as in a somersault:
He tripped and fell head over heels into the gully.
- intensely; completely:
head over heels in love.
- impulsively; carelessly:
They plunged head over heels into the fighting.
- head to head, in direct opposition or competition:
The candidates will debate head to head.
- keep one's head above water, to remain financially solvent:
Despite their debts, they are managing to keep their heads above water.
- keep one's head, to remain calm or poised, as in the midst of crisis or confusion:
It was fortunate that someone kept his head and called a doctor.
- lay / put heads together, to meet in order to discuss, consult, or scheme:
Neither of them had enough money for a tour of Europe, so they put their heads together and decided to find jobs there.
- lose one's head, to become uncontrolled or wildly excited:
When he thought he saw an animal in the underbrush, he lost his head and began shooting recklessly.
- make head, to progress or advance, especially despite opposition; make headway:
There have been many delays, but we are at last making head.
- make heads roll, to exert authority by firing or dismissing employees or subordinates:
He made heads roll as soon as he took office.
- not make head or tail of, to be unable to understand or decipher: Also not make heads or tails of.
We couldn't make head or tail of the strange story.
- off the top of one's head, candidly or extemporaneously:
Off the top of my head, I'd say that's right.
- on one's head, as one's responsibility or fault:
Because of his reckless driving he now has the deaths of three persons on his head.
- one's head off, extremely; excessively:
We screamed our heads off at that horror movie.
He laughed his head off at the monkey's antics.
- out of one's head / mind,
- insane; crazy.
- Informal. delirious; irrational:
You're out of your head if you accept those terms.
- over one's head,
- beyond one's comprehension, ability, or resources:
The classical allusion went right over his head.
- beyond one's financial resources or ability to pay:
He's losing over his head in that poker game.
- over someone's head, to appeal to someone having a superior position or prior claim:
She went over her supervisor's head and complained to a vice president.
- pull one's head in, Australian Slang. to keep quiet or mind one's own business; shut up.
- rear its (ugly) head, (of something undesirable) to emerge or make an appearance, especially after being hidden:
Jealousy reared its ugly head and destroyed their relationship.
- take it into one's head, to form a notion, purpose, or plan: Also take into one's head.
She took it into her head to study medicine.
- turn someone's head,
- to cause someone to become smug or conceited:
Her recent success has completely turned her head.
- to cause one to become foolish or confused:
A whirlwind romance has quite turned his head.
More idioms and phrases containing head
- beat into someone's head
- beat one's head against the wall
- big head
- bite someone's head off
- bring to a head
- can't make head or tail of
- count noses (heads)
- do blindfolded (standing on one's head)
- enter one's mind (head)
- eyes in the back of one's head
- from head to toe
- get into one's head
- get one's head examined
- get through one's head
- give someone his or her head
- good head on one's shoulders
- go to one's head
- hang one's head
- hang over (one's head)
- have a head for
- have a screw loose (head screwed on right)
- hide one's head
- hide one's head in the sand
- hit the nail on the head
- hold a gun to someone's head
- hold one's head high
- in over one's head
- keep one's head
- laugh one's head off
- like a chicken with its head cut off
- lose one's head
- make one's head spin
- need like a hole in the head
- not right in the head
- off one's head
- off the top of one's head
- on one's head
- on the block (put one's head)
- over one's head
- price on one's head
- put ideas in someone's head
- put our heads together
- rear its ugly head
- rocks in one's head
- roof over one's head
- scratch one's head
- shake one's head
- soft in the head
- swelled head
- talk someone's arm (head) off
- throw oneself (at someone's head)
- touched in the head
- trouble one's head
- turn one's head
- upside the head
- use one's head
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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