horn
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.
a similar growth, sometimes of hair, as the median horn or horns on the snout of the rhinoceros, or the tusk of the narwhal.
a process projecting from the head of an animal and suggestive of such a growth, as a feeler, tentacle, or crest.
the bony substance of which such animal growths are composed.
any similar substance, as that forming tortoise shell, hoofs, nails, or corns.
an article made of the material of an animal horn or like substance, as a thimble, spoon, or shoehorn.
any projection or extremity resembling the horn of an animal.
something resembling or suggesting an animal horn: a drinking horn.
a part resembling an animal horn attributed to deities, demons, etc.: the devil's horn.
Usually horns. the imaginary projections on a cuckold's brow.
Music.
a wind instrument, originally formed from the hollow horn of an animal but now usually made of brass or other metal or plastic.
something used as or resembling such a wind instrument.
Slang. a trumpet.
an instrument for sounding a warning signal: an automobile horn.
Aeronautics. any of certain short, armlike levers on the control surfaces of an airplane.
Radio.
a tube of varying cross section used in some loudspeakers to couple the diaphragm to the sound-transmitting space.
Slang. a loudspeaker.
Slang. a telephone or radiotelephone: I've been on the horn all morning.
the high protuberant part at the front and top of certain saddles; a pommel, especially a high one.
Carpentry. (in a door or window frame) that part of a jamb extending above the head.
one of the curved extremities of a crescent, especially of the crescent moon.
a crescent-shaped tract of land.
a pyramidal mountain peak, especially one having concave faces carved by glaciation.
a symbol of power or strength, as in the Bible: a horn of salvation.
each of the alternatives of a dilemma.
the narrow, more pointed part of an anvil.
Metalworking. a projection at the side of the end of a rolled sheet or strip, caused by unevenness of the roll due to wear.
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.
to cuckold.
to butt or gore with the horns.
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.
made of horn.
Idioms about horn
blow / toot one's own horn, Informal. to publicize or boast about one's abilities or achievements: He's a bright fellow, but likes to blow his own horn too much.
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.
horn in, Informal. to thrust oneself forward obtrusively; intrude or interrupt: Every time we try to have a private conversation, the boss horns in.
lock horns, to conflict, quarrel, or disagree: The administration and the staff locked horns over the proposed measures.
on the horns of a dilemma, confronted with two equally disagreeable choices.
Origin of horn
1Other words from horn
- hornish, adjective
- hornless, adjective
- horn·less·ness, noun
- hornlike, adjective
Words Nearby horn
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use horn in a sentence
Another car behind it in line was behaving “obnoxiously,” honking its horn and blasting music, he said.
Those Ticketed for Seditious Language Say Their Only Crime Was Talking Back | Kate Nucci | September 9, 2020 | Voice of San DiegoCarolina Garcia, 35, director of original series at NetflixMy parents always say, “Toma el toro por las astas,” which means, “Grab the bull by the horns.”
The advice that helped this year’s 40 under 40 find their own path | kdunn6 | September 3, 2020 | FortuneHe took pictures of the lizard and measured the size and shape of its body parts, such as the length of its nose-horn and head.
A nose-horned dragon lizard lost to science for over 100 years has been found | Dyna Rochmyaningsih | June 9, 2020 | Science NewsTo transform a horse into a unicorn, you could try adding a horn from a related animal, Paul Knoepfler says.
Researchers have found certain genes that are turned off or on when animals are growing their horns.
So I asked the driver to honk the horn, which he does, and Rod looks over.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTReportedly, George Custer wore a Stetson into Little Big horn.
A car parked at a red light honked its horn in rhythm with the chant as the crowd passed in front of it.
‘They Let Him Off?’ Scenes from NYC in Disbelief | Jacob Siegel | December 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe told the court he called the retired captain to see exactly where he lived so he knew when to sound the cruise ship horn.
The Costa Concordia’s Randy Reckless Captain Takes the Stand | Barbie Latza Nadeau | December 2, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAvailable at Jonathan Adler Whisky Tumbler Set—Light horn, $65 This is drinking at its most fashionable.
The Daily Beast’s 2014 Holiday Gift Guide: For the Angelina Jolie in Your Life | Allison McNearney | November 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBefore the outlaw can comply with this small request the horn sounds again.
Physiology of The Opera | John H. Swaby (AKA "Scrici")Also our six-shooters reposed in their scabbards, the four belts hooked over the horn of MacRae's saddle.
Raw Gold | Bertrand W. SinclairThere's one called ze, on top of a hill shaped almost like a horn; she showed me a picture of it.
Rosemary in Search of a Father | C. N. WilliamsonThe second barrel was discharged with no better result, except that a splinter of its horn was knocked off.
Hunting the Lions | R.M. BallantyneA huge string game-bag was slung over his back, and in an antelope's horn or a crane's bill bullets were carried.
Our Little Korean Cousin | H. Lee M. Pike
British Dictionary definitions for horn (1 of 2)
/ (hɔːn) /
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: Related adjectives: corneous, keratoid
the outgrowth from the nasal bone of a rhinoceros, consisting of a mass of fused hairs
any hornlike projection or process, such as the eyestalk of a snail
the antler of a deer
the constituent substance, mainly keratin, of horns, hooves, etc
(in combination): horn-rimmed spectacles
a container or device made from this substance or an artificial substitute: a shoe horn; a drinking horn
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
a primitive musical wind instrument made from the horn of an animal
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
jazz slang any wind instrument
a device for producing a warning or signalling noise
(in combination): a foghorn
(usually plural) the hornlike projection attributed to certain devils, deities, etc
(usually plural) the imaginary hornlike parts formerly supposed to appear on the forehead of a cuckold
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
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
any such device used to spread or focus sound, such as the device attached to an electrical loudspeaker in a public address system
Also called: horn antenna a microwave aerial, formed by flaring out the end of a waveguide
geology another name for pyramidal peak
a stretch of land or water shaped like a horn
British slang an erection of the penis
Bible a symbol of power, victory, or success: in my name shall his horn be exalted
blow one's horn US and Canadian to boast about oneself; brag: Brit equivalent: blow one's own trumpet
draw in one's horns or pull in one's horns
to suppress or control one's feelings, esp of anger, enthusiasm, or passion
to withdraw a previous statement
to economize
on the horns of a dilemma
in a situation involving a choice between two equally unpalatable alternatives
in an awkward situation
to provide with a horn or horns
to gore or butt with a horn
Origin of horn
1- See also horn in
Derived forms of horn
- hornless, adjective
- hornlike, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for Horn (2 of 2)
/ (hɔːn) /
Cape See Cape Horn
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
Scientific definitions for horn
[ 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.
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.
The hard durable substance that forms the outer covering of true horns. It consists of keratin.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with horn
In addition to the idioms beginning with horn
- horn in on
- horns of a dilemma, on the
also see:
- blow one's own horn
- lock horns
- pull in one's horns
- take the bull by the horns
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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