head
1head
noun \ˈhed\Definition of HEAD
1
: the upper or anterior division of the animal body that contains the brain, the chief sense organs, and the mouth
2
3
: the obverse of a coin —usually used in plural
4
a : person, individual <count heads> b plural head : one of a number (as of domestic animals)
5
a : the end that is upper or higher or opposite the foot <the head of the table> <head of a sail> b : the source of a stream c : either end of something (as a drum) whose two ends need not be distinguished
6
: director, leader: as a : headmaster b : one in charge of a division or department in an office or institution
7
a : capitulum 2 b : the foliaged part of a plant especially when consisting of a compact mass of leaves or close fructification <a head of lettuce>
8
a : the leading element of a military column or a procession b : headway
9
a : the uppermost extremity or projecting part of an object : top b : the striking part of a weapon, tool, or implement c : the rounded proximal end of a long bone (as the humerus) d : the end of a muscle nearest the origin e : the oval part of a printed musical note
10
a : a body of water kept in reserve at a height; also : the containing bank, dam, or wall b : a mass of water in motion
11
a : the difference in elevation between two points in a body of fluid b : the resulting pressure of the fluid at the lower point expressible as this height; broadly : pressure of a fluid
12
a : the bow and adjacent parts of a ship b : a ship's toilet; broadly : toilet 3
13
: the approximate length of the head of a horse <won by a head>
14
: the place of leadership, honor, or command <at the head of her class>
15
a (1) : a word or series of words often in larger letters placed at the beginning of a passage or at the top of a page in order to introduce or categorize (2) : a separate part or topic b : a portion of a page or sheet that is above the first line of printing
16
: the foam or scum that rises on a fermenting or effervescing liquid (as beer)
17
a : the part of a boil, pimple, or abscess at which it is likely to break b : culminating point of action : crisis <events came to a head>
18
a : a part or attachment of a machine or machine tool containing a device (as a cutter or drill); also : the part of an apparatus that performs the chief function or a particular function b : an electromagnet used as a transducer in magnetic recording for recording on, reading, or erasing a magnetic medium (as tape or a disk)
19
: an immediate constituent of a construction that can have the same grammatical function as the whole (as man in “an old man”, “a very old man”, or “the man in the street”)
20
a : one who uses a drug —often used in combination <pothead> b : a devoted enthusiast : aficionado —often used in combination <computerhead>
21
often vulgar : fellatio, cunnilingus —usually used with give
— by the head
: drawing the greater depth of water forward
— off one's head
: crazy, distracted
— out of one's head
— over one's head
1
: beyond one's comprehension or competence <the most awful intellectual detail, all of it over my head — E. B. White>
2
: so as to pass over one's superior standing or authority <went over my head to complain>
Examples of HEAD
- She patted the dog on the head.
- He nodded his head in agreement.
- The ceiling's low—watch your head!
Origin of HEAD
Middle English hed, from Old English hēafod; akin to Old High German houbit head, Latin caput
First Known Use: before 12th century
Related to HEAD
Other Anatomy Terms
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