horn
noun
one of the bony, permanent, hollow paired growths, often curved and pointed, that project from the upper part of the head of certain hooved mammals, as cattle, sheep, goats, or antelopes.
horn
American
[hawrn]
/ hɔrn /
noun
-
horns
plural
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one of the bony, permanent, hollow paired growths, often curved and pointed, that project from the upper part of the head of certain hooved mammals, as cattle, sheep, goats, or antelopes.
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a similar growth, sometimes of hair, as the median horn or horns on the snout of the rhinoceros, or the tusk of the narwhal.
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a process projecting from the head of an animal and suggestive of such a growth, as a feeler, tentacle, or crest.
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the bony substance of which such animal growths are composed.
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any similar substance, as that forming tortoise shell, hoofs, nails, or corns.
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an article made of the material of an animal horn or like substance, as a thimble, spoon, or shoehorn.
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any projection or extremity resembling the horn of an animal.
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something resembling or suggesting an animal horn.
a drinking horn.
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a part resembling an animal horn attributed to deities, demons, etc..
the devil's horn.
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Usually horns. the imaginary projections on a cuckold's brow.
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Music.
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a wind instrument, originally formed from the hollow horn of an animal but now usually made of brass or other metal or plastic.
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something used as or resembling such a wind instrument.
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Slang. a trumpet.
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an instrument for sounding a warning signal.
an automobile horn.
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Aeronautics. any of certain short, armlike levers on the control surfaces of an airplane.
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Radio.
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a tube of varying cross section used in some loudspeakers to couple the diaphragm to the sound-transmitting space.
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Slang. a loudspeaker.
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Slang. a telephone or radiotelephone.
I've been on the horn all morning.
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the high protuberant part at the front and top of certain saddles; a pommel, especially a high one.
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Carpentry. (in a door or window frame) that part of a jamb extending above the head.
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one of the curved extremities of a crescent, especially of the crescent moon.
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a crescent-shaped tract of land.
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a pyramidal mountain peak, especially one having concave faces carved by glaciation.
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a symbol of power or strength, as in the Bible.
a horn of salvation.
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each of the alternatives of a dilemma.
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the narrow, more pointed part of an anvil.
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Metalworking. a projection at the side of the end of a rolled sheet or strip, caused by unevenness of the roll due to wear.
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Horology. (in a lever escapement) either of the two prongs at the end of the lever fork guarding against overbanking when the guard pin is in the crescent.
verb (used with object)
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horns,
present (3rd person singular)
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horned,
past participle, past
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horning
present participle
-
to cuckold.
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to butt or gore with the horns.
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Shipbuilding. to set up (a frame or bulkhead of a vessel being built) at a proper angle to the keel with due regard to the inclination of the keel on the ways; plumb.
adjective
idioms
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draw / pull in one's horns, to restrain oneself or become less belligerent; retreat.
Since he lost so much gambling, he's drawn in his horns a bit.
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on the horns of a dilemma, confronted with two equally disagreeable choices.
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blow / toot one's own horn, to publicize or boast about one's abilities or achievements.
He's a bright fellow, but likes to blow his own horn too much.
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horn in, to thrust oneself forward obtrusively; intrude or interrupt.
Every time we try to have a private conversation, the boss horns in.
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lock horns, to conflict, quarrel, or disagree.
The administration and the staff locked horns over the proposed measures.
horn
1
British
/ hɔːn /
noun
-
either of a pair of permanent outgrowths on the heads of cattle, antelopes, sheep, etc, consisting of a central bony core covered with layers of keratin
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the outgrowth from the nasal bone of a rhinoceros, consisting of a mass of fused hairs
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any hornlike projection or process, such as the eyestalk of a snail
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the antler of a deer
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the constituent substance, mainly keratin, of horns, hooves, etc
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( in combination )
horn-rimmed spectacles
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a container or device made from this substance or an artificial substitute
a shoe horn
a drinking horn
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an object or part resembling a horn in shape, such as the points at either end of a crescent, the point of an anvil, the pommel of a saddle, or a cornucopia
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a primitive musical wind instrument made from the horn of an animal
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any musical instrument consisting of a pipe or tube of brass fitted with a mouthpiece, with or without valves See hunting horn French horn cor anglais
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slang jazz any wind instrument
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a device for producing a warning or signalling noise
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( in combination )
a foghorn
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(usually plural) the hornlike projection attributed to certain devils, deities, etc
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(usually plural) the imaginary hornlike parts formerly supposed to appear on the forehead of a cuckold
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Also called: horn balance. an extension of an aircraft control surface that projects in front of the hinge providing aerodynamic assistance in moving the control
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Also called: acoustic horn, exponential horn. a hollow conical device coupled to the diaphragm of a gramophone to control the direction and quality of the sound
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any such device used to spread or focus sound, such as the device attached to an electrical loudspeaker in a public address system
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Also called: horn antenna. a microwave aerial, formed by flaring out the end of a waveguide
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geology another name for pyramidal peak
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a stretch of land or water shaped like a horn
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slang an erection of the penis
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Bible a symbol of power, victory, or success
in my name shall his horn be exalted
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Brit equivalent: blow one's own trumpet. to boast about oneself; brag
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to suppress or control one's feelings, esp of anger, enthusiasm, or passion
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to withdraw a previous statement
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to economize
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-
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in a situation involving a choice between two equally unpalatable alternatives
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in an awkward situation
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verb
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to provide with a horn or horns
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to gore or butt with a horn
Horn
2
British
/ hɔːn /
noun
horn
Scientific
/ hôrn /
-
Either of the bony growths projecting from the upper part of the head of certain hoofed mammals, such as cattle, sheep, and goats. The horns of these animals are never shed, and they consist of bone covered by keratin.
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A hard growth that looks like a horn, such as an antler or a growth on the head of a giraffe or rhinoceros. Unlike true horns, antlers are shed yearly and have a velvety covering, and the horns of a rhinoceros are made not of bone but of hairy skin fused with keratin.
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The hard durable substance that forms the outer covering of true horns. It consists of keratin.
horn
More Idioms
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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hornsimple
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hornssimple
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have hornedperfect
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has hornedperfect
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am horningprogressive
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are horningprogressive
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is horningprogressive
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have been horningperfect progressive
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has been horningperfect progressive
Past
-
hornedsimple
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had hornedperfect
-
was horningprogressive
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were horningprogressive
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had been horningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of horn
First recorded before 900; Middle English horn(e) (noun), Old English horn; cognate with Dutch horen, Old Norse, Danish, Swedish horn, German Horn, Gothic haurn, Latin cornu “horn,” Irish, Welsh corn; akin to Greek kéras “horn” ( see cerat-); see also cornu
Explanation
A horn is an instrument that's made of metal and is played by blowing into it. Another type of horn comes out of an animal's head. Don't confuse the two and imagine a trombone sticking out of a water buffalo's head. A trumpet is one kind of horn, and another is a silly plastic noisemaker that produces a loud, honking sound. You might blow this horn at a New Year's party or a football game. Your car has a horn too, that you use to warn other drivers of your presence or express your annoyance. The horns that animals have are hard, bony bumps or projections on their heads — you'll see them on goats and bulls, for example.
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.
See Examples For:
But I didn’t know that when our rig sounded three long horn blasts as pieces of the roof came down—a signal to evacuate and move to defensive firefighting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
‘To Pimp a Butterfly’ was, to me, like the unicorn horn.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2026
Samoan Prime Minister La'auli Leuatea Schmidt wore a Jewish prayer shawl when he was sworn in last year, entering the room to the sound of a ceremonial "shofar" horn.
From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026
They honked the horn nine times to alert others nearby.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
Kevin?—Kevin came up behind Daniel and caught one of his whirling arms with a yak horn.
From "Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody" by Patrick Ness
They include Gadi Moses, another kibbutz co-founder, and the oldest living male hostage released during the Gaza war, and Yair Horn, who stops to chat with the Aharons as he passes in a golf buggy.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
The development marks a major shift in the conflict and raises concerns among observers that the fighting could further destabilise the Horn of Africa, potentially drawing in neighbouring countries.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
The stories of dead Jews, Ms. Horn reminds us, must be complemented by an understanding of the traditions, texts and practices of living ones.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
Abiy, 50, has ruled the Horn of Africa country of 130 million since 2018.
From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026
And very valiant indeed he was: no heir of Minas Tirith has for long years been so hardy in toil, so onward into battle, or blown a mightier note on the Great Horn.’
From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien
Retail investors, too, are poised to increase their buying of stocks and options after pulling in their horns during September, he contends.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 2, 2026
Creative director Seán McGirr brought the brand back to its roots, with a runway of devil horns, lace corsets and chainmail skull dresses.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
This week, exasperated residents blocked the highway linking Tachira state to Barinas at night, banging pots and pans and honking horns in protest.
From Barron's ● Sep. 12, 2026
Percussion underneath, horns above, their rendition of “Tequila!” with a ska spirit.
From Salon ● Aug. 11, 2026
“My name is Garfield, and I’m already four and a half. My favorite dinosaur is a Carnotaurus because he has two horns and is a meat-eater, like me.”
From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry
The actor again stole the show with theatrical flair as the Lord of Darkness in Ridley Scott’s bleak 1985 fantasy “Legend,” playing a demonic horned figure opposite Tom Cruise.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
Tom Berendsen, managing director of production company Business/Club, this year made a Super Bowl advert for Skittles starring Elijah Wood, surreally, as a magical horned woodland creature.
From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026
Triceratops and other horned dinosaurs had exceptionally large nasal cavities compared to most animals.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 22, 2026
The coinage is a nod to Brünnhilde, a soprano role stereotypically portrayed as a robust figure in a horned helmet.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 12, 2026
But this horned toad wore furry plant roots as bracelets and even a necklace of sweetgrass.
From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young
Using a device to achieve the same effect was unfairly horning in on AT&T property.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 26, 2024
Wines made with Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, dry Rieslings, Trousseau Gris, Albariño and many others have been horning their way into the marketplace for the better part of a decade.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2018
He left behind a celebrated quote: “The trouble with boxing today is that legitimate businessmen are horning in on our game.”
From The Guardian ● May 22, 2015
His talent for horning in on history did not fail him.
From Slate ● Mar. 26, 2013
“That’s my lucky spot. Don’t even think about horning in.”
From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn
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.
