plural heads
1
: the upper or anterior division of the animal body that contains the brain, the chief sense organs, and the mouth
nodded his head in agreement
2
3
: the obverse (see obverse entry 2 sense 1) of a coin
—usually used in plural
call heads or tails
4
a
: person, individual
count heads
b
plural head
: one of a number (as of domestic animals)
sold twenty head of cattle
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 or river
the head of the Nile
c
: either end of something (such as a drum) whose two ends need not be distinguished
6
a
b
: one in charge of a division or department in an office or institution
the head of the English department
met with the other department heads
7
b
: the foliaged part of a plant especially when consisting of a compact mass of leaves, flowers, or fruit
a head of lettuce
a single head of grain
8
a
: the leading element of a military column or a procession
b
: headway
Often, she had to fight for her head as the press of sail buried her bow.—C. V. Reilly
9
a
: the uppermost extremity or projecting part of an object : top
the head of a bolt
b
: the striking part of a weapon, tool, or implement
the head of an ax
c
: the rounded proximal end of a long bone (such 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 (as in a rip current)
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
an engine with a full head of steam
12
a
: the bow and adjacent parts of a ship
b
: a ship's toilet
broadly
: toilet sense 1
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
heads of a sermon
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 (such 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 (such as a cutter or drill)
turret head of a lathe
also
: the part of an apparatus that performs the chief function or a particular function
a drill head
b
magnetic recording
: an electromagnet used as a transducer for recording on, reading, or erasing a magnetic medium (such as tape or a disk)
19
grammar
: an immediate constituent of a construction that can have the same grammatical function as the whole (such 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
usually vulgar
: fellatio, cunnilingus
—usually used with give
1
: of, relating to, or intended for the upper or anterior division of the animal body that contains the brain, the chief sense organs, and the mouth : of, relating to, or intended for the head (see head entry 1 sense 1)
head injuries
3
: located at the end that is upper or higher : situated at the head (see head entry 1 sense 5a)
head sails
4
: coming from in front
head sea
headed; heading; heads
1
: behead
2
a
: to put the striking part of a weapon, tool, or implement on : fit a head (see head entry 1 sense 9b) to
head an arrow
b
: to form the uppermost extremity or projecting part of : to form the head or top of
tower headed by a spire
3
: to act as leader or director of : to act as head (see head entry 1 sense 6) to
head a revolt
4
a
: to get in front of so as to hinder, stop, or turn back
head a herd of cattle
b
: to take a lead over (as in a race) : surpass
c
: to pass (a stream) by going round above the source
5
a
: to place something at the beginning or top of (something) in order to introduce or categorize : to put something at the head of (something, as a list)
Each page was headed with the writer's name.
b
: to stand as the first or leading member of
heads the list of heroes
6
: to set the course of
head a ship northward
7
: to hit and propel (something, such as a soccer ball) with the head (see head entry 1 sense 1)
headed the ball into the goal
1
: to form a compact mass of leaves or fruit : to form a head (see head entry 1 sense 7b)
This type of cabbage heads early.
2
: to point or proceed in a certain direction
headed south
3
: to have a source : originate
The river heads in those mountains.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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