behead

American

[bih-hed] / bɪˈhɛd /

verb (used with object)

to cut off the head of; kill or execute by decapitation.
Geology. (of a pirate stream) to divert the headwaters of (a river, stream, etc.).

behead British

/ bɪˈhɛd /

verb

(tr) to remove the head from; decapitate

"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

Other Word Forms

beheadal noun
beheader noun
unbeheaded adjective

Etymology

Origin of behead

before 1000; Middle English behe ( f ) den, beheveden, Old English behēafdian. See be-, head

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The public are to be given a rare chance to see the last letter by Mary Queen of Scots, which was written just hours before she was beheaded.

From BBC

I am where I want to be—on a boat that will beheading be heading for The United States of America.

From Literature

Osbourne retells the infamous story of orally beheading an unsuspecting bat.

From The Wall Street Journal

He also referred to a 14th century predecessor who had been beheaded, adding: "I hope not literally."

From BBC

There has been no evidence that children were beheaded on Oct.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023