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.
this part as the organ of smell.
the sense of smell: fragrances appealing to the nose.
anything regarded as resembling the nose of a person or animal, as a spout or nozzle.
the prow of a ship.
the forward end of an aircraft.
the forward edge of the head of a golf club.
a projecting part of anything: the nose of a pair of pliers.
a faculty of perceiving or detecting: to have a nose for news.
the human nose regarded as a symbol of meddling or prying: Why can't he keep his nose out of my business?
the length of a nose: The horse won the race by a nose.
the bouquet of an alcoholic drink, especially the distinctive aroma of a wine.
verb (used with object),nosed,nos·ing.
to perceive by or as by the nose or the sense of smell: a cheese that could be nosed at some distance.
to approach the nose to, as in smelling or examining; sniff.
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.
to touch or rub with the nose; nuzzle.
verb (used without object),nosed,nos·ing.
to smell or sniff.
to seek as if by smelling or scent: The dogs nosed after their quarry.
to move or push forward: to nose into the wind.
to meddle or pry (often followed by about, into, etc.): They are always nosing about in other people's business.
Verb Phrases
nose out,
to defeat, especially by a narrow margin: The other candidates had been nosed out in the final returns.
to learn or discover, especially by snooping or prying: to nose out a secret.
Idioms
count noses, to count the number of people in attendance: Each time the troop left an exhibit the leader counted noses.
cut off one's nose to spite one's face, to create a disadvantage to oneself through one's own spiteful action.
follow one's nose,
to go forward in a straight course.
to guide oneself by instinct: I found the house by following my nose.
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.
keep one's nose clean, to behave oneself; avoid trouble or scandal: Did he keep his nose clean after he got out of prison?
lead (around) by the nose, to exercise complete control over; dominate totally: He lets his brother lead him by the nose.
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.
on the nose, Informal.
precisely, correctly, or perfectly.
exactly on time: We made it at ten o'clock on the nose.
(of a bet) for win only.
AustralianInformal.decayed or putrid; stinking.
AustralianInformal.distasteful or unpleasant; of doubtful validity or propriety.
pay through the nose, to pay an excessive price: They patronize small and exclusive shops where they cheerfully pay through the nose.
put someone's nose out of joint,
to annoy or irritate greatly.
to supersede a person in another's regard, devotion, etc.
to thwart someone; spoil someone's plans.
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.
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.
under someone's nose, plainly visible to; in full view of; in bold defiance of: The theft took place right under the detective's nose.Also under someone's very nose.
Origin of nose
before 900;Middle English (noun); Old Englishnosu; akin to Dutchneus,GermanNase,Latinnāsus,Sanskritnāsā
Related formsnose·less, adjectivenose·like, adjectiveun·nosed, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for follow one's nose
nose
noun
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 septumRelated adjectives: nasal, rhinal
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)
"perceive the smell of," 1570s; "pry, search," 1640s, from nose (n.). Related: Nosed; nosing.
nose
n.
Old English nosu, from Proto-Germanic *nusus (cf. Old Norse nös, Old Frisian nose, Dutch neus, Old High German nasa, German Nase), from PIE *nas- "nose" (cf. Sanskrit nasa, Old Persian naham, Old Church Slavonic nasu, Lithuanian nosis, Latin nasus "nose"). Used of any prominent or projecting part from 1530s. (nose cone in the space rocket sense is from 1949). Used to indicate "something obvious" from 1590s. Meaning "odor, scent" is from 1894.
Kiv, It could bee no other then his owne manne, that had thrust his nose so farre out of ioynte. ["Barnabe Riche His Farewell to Military Profession," 1581]
Pay through the nose (1670s) seems to suggest "bleed." Many extended meanings are from the horse-racing sense of "length of a horse's nose," as a measure of distance between two finishers (1908). To turn up one's nose "show disdain" is from 1818 (earlier hold up one's nose, 1570s); similar notion in look down one's nose (1921). To say something is under (one's) nose "in plain view" is from 1540s.
The part of the human face or the forward part of the head of other vertebrates that contains the nostrils and organs of smell and forms the beginning of the respiratory tract.
