Definition of head
(Entry 1 of 3)
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
2a : the seat of the intellect : mind two heads are better than one
b : a person with respect to mental qualities
let wiser heads prevail
c : natural aptitude or talent
a good head for figures
d : mental or emotional control : poise a level head
e : headache
3 : the obverse (see obverse entry 2 sense 1) of a coin
—usually used in pluralcall heads or tails
4a : person, individual count heads
b plural head : one of a number (as of domestic animals)
sold twenty head of cattle
5a : 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
a : headmaster
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
7a : capitulum sense 2
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
8a : 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
9a : 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
10a : 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)
11a : 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
12a : the bow and adjacent parts of a ship
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
15a(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)
17a : 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
18a : 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")
20a : one who uses a drug
—often used in combinationpothead
b : a devoted enthusiast : aficionado —often used in combinationcomputerhead
by the head off one's head out of one's head over one's head
: drawing the greater depth of water forward
: crazy, distracted
: delirious Her parents were out of their heads with worry.
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
head
adjectiveDefinition of head (Entry 2 of 3)
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
head
verbheaded; heading; heads
Definition of head (Entry 3 of 3)
1 : behead
2a : 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
4a : 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
5a : 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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Share head
Time Traveler for head
The first known use of head was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century