headset

noun

head·​set ˈhed-ˌset 

plural headsets

1

: a support framework with attached electronic devices that is worn on the head: such as

a

: an earphone or a pair of earphones held on the head by a band

Earbuds, tiny round speakers which fit snugly into the ear, are near-invisible as they don't use a headband, but they don't fit every ear. The traditional banded headsets either completely enclose the ear or just sit gently over the opening.

—Joe Brown

Using discreet headsets with single earpiece headphones, the free audio-described tour will be delivered by a professional audio describer.

—Lincoln Tan

especially : such a headset that also includes an attached microphone

All you need for this is a hands-free headset for your telephone. Once you're properly equipped, you can make personal phone calls while simultaneously using your computer for personal entertainment.

—Paul McFedries

b

: virtual reality hardware (such as goggles and headphones) that is held on the head by one or more bands or straps

… stitches together multiple images to create a panoramic, 360-degree environment, and provides a virtual-reality headset to put you in the middle of a real video. You merely glance left or right, up or down, to see a different portion of the 3-D world you're in.

—Jake Kirchner

2

: the support framework of a headset

Google Glass—the wearable computer mounted in the headset of a pair of glasses—was launched by the data giant in February 2013.

—David McNamee

Examples of headset in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Send any news, comments, shadowy flights, and wholesome VR headset uses to [e-mail]. —Susan Howson, Quartz, 8 Apr. 2024

But now the car isn’t happening and Apple has already released its first mixed-reality product, the Vision Pro headset. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024

In addition to other headsets on the market, such as Meta’s Oculus Quest 3, the US $3,499 Vision Pro could invigorate the market, members of the AR Alliance say. —IEEE Spectrum, 28 Mar. 2024

The agency has since worked with Cognito Therapeutics, which is testing a headset to slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients, and Science Corp., a startup founded by former Neuralink president Max Hodak that is developing a visual prosthesis for the blind. —Emily Mullin, WIRED, 28 Mar. 2024

Inside the Win Circle, guests can swap their arcade tickets for virtual reality headsets, Nintendo Switches, PlayStations, AirPods, meal vouchers and more. —Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 27 Mar. 2024

This is a juicy 39% price drop on a very capable headset that gamers will flip over. —K. Thor Jensen, PCMAG, 21 Mar. 2024

Just Blew One Up In Eastern Ukraine Evaluating The VR Headset Market Currently, there are several available headsets available on the market. —Bankim Chandra, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

The headsets were made out of metal and dipped in liquid mirror coating. —Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 23 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

headset

noun

head·​set -ˌset 

: a pair of headphones