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head

[ hed ]

/ hɛd /

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noun

the upper part of the body in humans, joined to the trunk by the neck, containing the brain, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.

the corresponding part of the body in other animals.

the head considered as the center of the intellect, as of thought, memory, understanding, or emotional control; mind; brain: 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.

a person considered with reference to his or her 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 (opposed to 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 tail¹ (def. 6d).

headline.

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.
crown (def. 29).

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.

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 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.

headline (def. 4).

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 Phrases

head off, to go before in order to hinder the progress of; intercept: The police headed off the fleeing driver at a railroad crossing.

OTHER WORDS FOR head

5 commander, superior, boss, principal, superintendent, president, chairperson.

39 cardinal, foremost, supreme, main.

45 surpass, beat.

46 direct, command, rule, govern.

See synonyms for head on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR head

1 foot.

39 subordinate.

See antonyms for head on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON OPPOSITES OF RED BEFORE YOU TURN SCARLET

We have a challenge that will make you blush: do you know the many words and ways to describe the opposite of red?

Question 1 of 7

Which of the following colors is used to symbolize AIR?

white

green

red

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about head

(down) by the head, Nautical. so loaded 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 he or she likes; 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: When he realized what an unkind thing he had done, he hung his head in shame.Also hide one's head.

have one’s head screwed on right / straight, Informal. to be sensible or rational: It seems like these young people have their heads screwed on right and that our future is in great hands.Also have one’s head on right / straight .

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, 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.

keep one's head above water, to remain financially solvent: Despite their debts, they are managing to keep their heads above water.

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: We couldn't make head or tail of the strange story.Also not make heads or tails of.

off the top of one's head, candidly or extemporaneously: Off the top of my head, I'd say that's right.

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.

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.

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 lost 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: She took it into her head to study medicine.Also take into one's head.

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.

Origin of head

First recorded before 900; Middle English he(v)ed, Old English hēafod; cognate with Old High German houbit, Gothic haubith; akin to Old English hafud- (in hafudland “headland”), Old Norse hǫfuth, Latin caput (see capital¹)

OTHER WORDS FROM head

head·like, adjectivemul·ti·head, noun

Other definitions for head (2 of 3)

Head

[ hed ]

/ hɛd /

noun

Edith, 1897–1981, U.S. costume designer.

Other definitions for head (3 of 3)

-head

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.

Origin of -head

Middle English -hede,Old English *-hǣdu, feminine of -hād-hood

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

WORDS THAT USE -HEAD

What does -head mean?

The suffix -head has two distinct senses.

The first of these senses is “a state of being.” It is used rarely, typically in archaic or obscure terms.

The suffix -head comes from Old English -hǣdu, roughly meaning “manner.”

Many terms, such as barehead, use the second sense of -head: literally, “head,” as in the part of the body. This usage is particularly found in insults, such as knucklehead.

What are variants of -head?

While not technically a variant of -head, the related suffix -hood, as in childhood, is more commonly used and similarly denotes a state of being.

Examples of -head meaning "a state of being"

One example of a term that features the suffix -head to mean “a state of being” is godhead, or godhood, meaning “divinity.” Godhead comes from Middle English godhede, which uses the equivalent of -head in that language.

The god- part of the word means “god,” while the suffix -head here denotes “a state of being.” Godhead literally means “state of being godly.”

What are some words that use the suffix -head to denote “state of being”?

drunkenhead
drowsihead
evenhead
jollyhead
lowlihead
maidenhead

What are some other forms that -head may be commonly confused with?

Break it down!

With the sense of -head as “a state of being,” what is the meaning of the archaic noun lowlihead?

Examples of -head meaning "head"

One example of a term that features the suffix -head to mean “head” is redhead, meaning “a person with red hair.”

What are some words that use -head to mean “head”?

Break it down!

With the meaning of -head to mean “head,” what does the insult blockhead mean?

How to use head in a sentence

The gunman hardly broke stride as he nonetheless shot Merabet in the head, killing him.
The Muslim Cop Killed by Terrorists|Michael Daly|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The scheme has been condemned by civil liberties groups and queried by the National Association of Head Teachers.
Britain May Spy on Preschoolers Searching for Potential Jihadis|Nico Hines|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He closed his eyes, imagining the virgins, imagining away the pain in his head and groin.
Powerful Congressman Writes About ‘Fleshy Breasts’|Asawin Suebsaeng|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I think all the traveling and all the nationalities put that stuff in my head.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness|Marlow Stern|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST

“I usually see people head to the stationary bikes,” Steinbrick says.
How to Survive the New Year ‘Gympocalypse’|Tim Teeman|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Madame Ratignolle, more careful of her complexion, had twined a gauze veil about her head.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
Only in the carnage of the head, the tilt of the chin, was the insolence expressed that had made her many enemies.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
Old Mrs. Wurzel and the buxom but not too well-favoured heiress of the house of Grains were at the head of the table.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
She sat straight up in bed, and jerked her hands to her head, and screamed long and terribly.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
A fancy came into my head that I would entertain the king and queen with an English tune upon this instrument.
Gulliver's Travels|Jonathan Swift

British Dictionary definitions for head (1 of 3)

head

/ (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 presentRelated adjective: 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 commandat the head of his class

the most forward part of a thing; a part that juts out; frontthe head of a queue
(as modifier)head point

the highest part of a thing; upper endthe 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)she has a good head for figures; a wise old head

plural head a person or animal considered as a unitthe show was two pounds per head; six hundred head of cattle

the head considered as a measure of length or heighthe'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 denselya 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, etcCompare 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 (def. 7)

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 pointa head of four feet
pressure of water, caused by height or velocity, measured in terms of a vertical column of water
any pressurea 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 head rugby from the opposing side's put-in to the scrum

bite someone's head off or snap someone's head off to speak sharply and angrily to someone

(bring or come to a head)

to bring or be brought to a crisismatters came to a head
(of a boil) to cause to be or be about to burst

get it into one's head to 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 head to allow a person greater freedom or responsibility

give a horse its head to 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 conceitedhis success has gone to his head

head and shoulders above greatly superior to

head over heels

turning a complete somersault
completely; utterly (esp in the phrase head over heels in love)

hold up one's head to be unashamed

keep one's head to remain calm

keep one's head above water to manage to survive a difficult experience

make head to make progress

make head or tail of (used 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 head without previous thought; impromptu

on one's head or on one's own head at one's (own) risk or responsibility

one's head off slang loudly or excessivelythe baby cried its head off

over someone's head

without a person in the obvious position being considered, esp for promotionthe graduate was promoted over the heads of several of his seniors
without consulting a person in the obvious position but referring to a higher authorityin 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 head to conceive a notion, desire, or wish (to do something)

turn heads to be so beautiful, unusual, or impressive as to attract a lot of attention

turn something on its head or stand something on its head to treat or present something in a completely new and different wayhealth care which has turned orthodox medicine on its head

turn someone's head to make someone vain, conceited, etc

verb

(tr) to be at the front or top ofto head the field

(tr often foll by up) 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 specifiedto head into the wind

soccer to propel (the ball) by striking it with the head

(tr) to provide with or be a head or headingto head a letter; the quotation which heads chapter 6

(tr) to cut the top branches or shoots off (a tree or plant)

(intr) to form a head, as a boil or plant

(intr often foll by in) (of streams, rivers, etc) to originate or rise in

head them Australian to toss the coins in a game of two-up

Derived forms of head

headlike, adjective

Word Origin for head

Old English hēafod; related to Old Norse haufuth, Old Frisian hāved, Old Saxon hōbid, Old High German houbit

British Dictionary definitions for head (2 of 3)

Head

/ (hɛd) /

noun

Edith. 1907–81, US dress designer: won many Oscars for her Hollywood film costume designs

British Dictionary definitions for head (3 of 3)

-head

combining form

indicating a person having a preoccupation as specifiedbreadhead

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for head

head

[ hĕd ]

The uppermost or forwardmost part of the human body, containing the brain and the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and jaws.

The analogous part of various vertebrate and invertebrate animals.

The pus-containing tip of an abscess, boil, or pimple.

The rounded proximal end of a long bone.

The end of a muscle that is attached to the less movable part of the skeleton.

Other Idioms and Phrases with head

head

In addition to the idioms beginning with head

head above water, keep one's
head and shoulders above
head for
head in the clouds, have one's
head in the sand
head off
head on
head or tail
head out
head over heels
heads or tails
head start
heads up
heads will roll
head up

also see:

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

head

OTHER WORDS FOR head

OPPOSITES FOR head

Idioms about head

Origin of head

OTHER WORDS FROM head

Other definitions for head (2 of 3)

Other definitions for head (3 of 3)

Origin of -head

WORDS THAT USE -HEAD

What does -head mean?

Examples of -head meaning "a state of being"

Examples of -head meaning "head"

Words related to head

How to use head in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for head (1 of 3)

Derived forms of head

Word Origin for head

British Dictionary definitions for head (2 of 3)

British Dictionary definitions for head (3 of 3)

Medical definitions for head

Other Idioms and Phrases with head