nose
Americannoun
-
noses
plural
-
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)
-
noses,
present (3rd person singular)
-
nosed,
past participle, past
-
nosing
present participle
-
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)
-
noses,
present (3rd person singular)
-
nosed,
past participle, past
-
nosing
present participle
-
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 phrase
idioms
-
count noses, to count the number of people in attendance.
Each time the troop left an exhibit the leader counted noses.
-
on the nose,
-
precisely, correctly, or perfectly.
-
exactly on time.
We made it at ten o'clock on the nose.
-
(of a bet) for win only.
-
Australian Informal. decayed or putrid; stinking.
-
Australian Informal. distasteful or unpleasant; of doubtful validity or propriety.
-
-
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.
-
follow one's nose,
-
to go forward in a straight course.
-
to guide oneself by instinct.
I found the house by following my 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.
-
cut off one's nose to spite one's face, to create a disadvantage to oneself through one's own spiteful action.
-
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.
-
pay through the nose, to pay an excessive price.
They patronize small and exclusive shops where they cheerfully pay through the nose.
-
keep one's nose clean, to behave oneself; avoid trouble or scandal.
Did he keep his nose clean after he got out of prison?
-
keep one's nose to the grindstone. grindstone.
-
lead (around) by the nose, to exercise complete control over; dominate totally.
He lets his brother lead him by the nose.
-
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: Also under someone's very nose.
The theft took place right under the detective's 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.
-
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 septum
-
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 )
-
another word for bouquet
-
instinctive skill or facility, esp in discovering things (sometimes in the phrase follow one's nose )
he had a nose for good news stories
-
any part regarded as resembling a nose in form or function, such as a nozzle or spout
-
the forward part of a vehicle, aircraft, etc, esp the front end of an aircraft
-
narrow margin of victory (in the phrase ( win ) by a nose )
-
to carry out a vengeful action that hurts oneself more than another
-
informal to annoy or irritate someone
-
to stay out of trouble; behave properly
-
to work hard and continuously
-
to make someone do unquestioningly all one wishes; dominate someone
-
informal to be contemptuous or disdainful of
-
(of vehicles) moving or standing very close behind one another
-
slang
-
(in horse-race betting) to win only
I bet twenty pounds on the nose on that horse
-
precisely; exactly
-
bad or bad-smelling
-
-
informal to pay an exorbitant price
-
informal to pry into or interfere in
-
informal to thwart or offend someone, esp by supplanting him or gaining something he regards as his
-
informal to remind someone unkindly of his failing or error
-
informal
-
to be short-sighted; suffer from myopia
-
to lack insight or foresight
-
-
informal to behave disdainfully towards (something)
-
-
directly in front of one
-
without one noticing
-
-
haughtily
verb
-
(tr) (esp of horses, dogs, etc) to rub, touch, or sniff with the nose; nuzzle
-
to smell or sniff (wine, etc)
-
(intr; usually foll by after or for) to search (for) by or as if by scent
-
to move or cause to move forwards slowly and carefully
the car nosed along the cliff top
we nosed the car into the garage
-
(intr; foll by into, around, about, etc) to pry or snoop (into) or meddle (in)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
nosesimple
-
nosessimple
-
have nosedperfect
-
has nosedperfect
-
am nosingprogressive
-
are nosingprogressive
-
is nosingprogressive
-
have been nosingperfect progressive
-
has been nosingperfect progressive
Past
-
nosedsimple
-
had nosedperfect
-
was nosingprogressive
-
were nosingprogressive
-
had been nosingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of nose
before 900; Middle English (noun); Old English nosu; akin to Dutch neus, German Nase, Latin nāsus, Sanskrit nāsā
Explanation
Your nose is the body part sticking out of your face (not that pimple, the pointy feature with two nostrils used for smelling). A nose is a sense organ — your nose tells you if the milk's gone bad or the cantaloupe is ripe. Dogs' noses give them even more information, about where their owners have been or which neighbor cats have been hanging out in their yards. If someone says you "have a nose" for something, they mean you're talented at it. As a verb, nose means to pry or meddle, or for an animal to push its nose against or into something.
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:
Recommendations which came out of the reports over the five years included additional consultants and locum cover for the island's ear, nose and throat service and improving resilience in the pathology department.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
Individuals who develop symptoms of measles, including fever, cough, runny nose or a rash, should call their healthcare provider before arriving for care in person.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2026
"In Brazil, we do not accept anyone sticking their nose where it does not belong," said Lula.
From Barron's ● Aug. 2, 2026
Airbus has similarly shut two sites in Salaunes and Mérignac, where it makes critical components ranging from cockpit seat structures to fuselage sections, nose cones and wing flaps for its lineup of commercial aircraft.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
Quinn wrinkles her nose when she says Cassie’s name, and my heart drops.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
People become infected by breathing in the contaminated air or touching the infected surface and then touching their eyes, noses or mouths.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
Many investors right now may turn their noses up at the idea of locking in a 3% yield for years or even decades, Elliott points out.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
Earlier studies from other research groups suggested that flu-related glycan receptors were present in the noses, tracheas, and lungs of cattle.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 23, 2026
"It means a zero-tolerance approach to the kind of organised crime that is now doing business under our noses," he told the BBC.
From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2026
Robin noses his way into the room and jumps onto my bed.
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
The versatile guitar nosed its way into every type of musical ensemble.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 19, 2025
The champions nosed ahead through a Lewandowski penalty on 10 minutes after Marcos Alonso handled Fermin Lopez's shot, but Celta equalised a minute later.
From Barron's ● Nov. 9, 2025
Tracking data show that the plane climbed to 75 feet above the runway, veered right and then nosed into a sudden, steep dive seconds after its 8:08 p.m. takeoff.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 7, 2024
Norris had previously nosed slightly ahead on the straight approaching the corner.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2024
A brown-and black hound nosed his way around their feet, sniffing for fallen scraps.
From "Huntress" by Malinda Lo
Bears, who can weigh up to half a ton and outrun humans, have been breaking into homes looking for food, nosing around schools and rampaging through supermarkets.
From Barron's ● Dec. 26, 2025
After a laborious setup of some 40 minutes, Blanc finally starts nosing around the scene.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 27, 2025
It’s funny, then, that the people nosing their way past the lines Allen draws and into her personal life are the same ones hoping for Harbour and Allen to be symbols of morality.
From Salon ● Oct. 29, 2025
Then there are four slightly older puppies, pit bull mixes probably, whose eyes are still tightly shut, futilely nosing around the crate for their mother who never made it to the shelter.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2023
He scrambled quickly down the bank and found the rat nosing in the ditch.
From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams
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.
