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head    Audio Help   [hed] Pronunciation Key
–noun
1.the upper part of the body in humans, joined to the trunk by the neck, containing the brain, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
2.the corresponding part of the body in other animals.
3.the head considered as the center of the intellect, as of thought, memory, understanding, or emotional control; mind; brain: She has a good head for mathematics. Keep a cool head in an emergency.
4.the position or place of leadership, greatest authority, or honor.
5.a person to whom others are subordinate, as the director of an institution or the manager of a department; leader or chief.
6.a person considered with reference to his or her mind, disposition, attributes, status, etc.: wise heads; crowned heads.
7.that part of anything that forms or is regarded as forming the top, summit, or upper end: head of a pin; head of a page.
8.the foremost part or front end of anything or a forward projecting part: head of a procession.
9.the part of a weapon, tool, etc., used for striking: the head of a hammer.
10.a person or animal considered merely as one of a number, herd, or group: ten head of cattle; a dinner at $20 a head.
11.a culminating point, usually of a critical nature; crisis or climax: to bring matters to a head.
12.the hair covering the head: to wash one's head.
13.froth or foam at the top of a liquid: the head on beer.
14.Botany.
a.any dense flower cluster or inflorescence.
b.any other compact part of a plant, usually at the top of the stem, as that composed of leaves in the cabbage or lettuce, of leafstalks in the celery, or of flower buds in the cauliflower.
15.the maturated part of an abscess, boil, etc.
16.a projecting point of a coast, esp. when high, as a cape, headland, or promontory.
17.the obverse of a coin, as bearing a head or other principal figure (opposed to tail).
18.one of the chief parts or points of a written or oral discourse; a main division of a subject, theme, or topic.
19.something resembling a head in form or a representation of a head, as a piece of sculpture.
20.the source of a river or stream.
21.Slang.
a.a habitual user of a drug, esp. LSD or marijuana (often used in combination): feds versus the heads; an acid-head; a pothead.
b.a fan or devotee (usually used in combination): a punk-rock head; a chili head.
22.heads, Distilling. alcohol produced during the initial fermentation. Compare tail1 (def. 6d).
23.headline.
24.a toilet or lavatory, esp. on a boat or ship.
25.Nautical.
a.the forepart of a vessel; bow.
b.the upper edge of a quadrilateral sail.
c.the upper corner of a jib-headed sail.
d.that part of the upper end of one spar of a mast that is overlapped by a spar above; a doubling at the upper end of a spar.
e.that part of the upper end of a mast between the highest standing rigging and the truck.
f.crown (def. 28).
26.Grammar.
a.the member of an endocentric construction that belongs to the same form class and may play the same grammatical role as the construction itself.
b.the member upon which another depends and to which it is subordinate. In former presidents, presidents is head and former is modifier.
27.the stretched membrane covering the end of a drum or similar musical instrument.
28.Mining. a level or road driven into solid coal for proving or working a mine.
29.Machinery. any of various devices on machine tools for holding, moving, indexing, or changing tools or work, as the headstock or turret of a lathe.
30.Railroads. railhead (def. 3).
31.(loosely) the pressure exerted by confined fluid: a head of steam.
32.Also called pressure head. Hydraulics.
a.the vertical distance between two points in a liquid, as water, or some other fluid
b.the pressure differential resulting from this separation, expressed in terms of the vertical distance between the points.
c.the pressure of a fluid expressed in terms of the height of a column of liquid yielding an equivalent pressure.
33.Also called magnetic head. Electronics. the part or parts of a tape recorder that record, play back, or erase magnetic signals on magnetic tape. Compare erasing head, playback head, recording head.
34.Computers. read/write head.
35.Photography.
a.a mounting for a camera, as on a tripod.
b.the part of an enlarger that contains the light source, negative carrier, lensboard, and lens.
36.Slang: Vulgar. fellatio.
37.Archaic. power, strength, or force progressively gathered or gradually attained.
38.heads up! Informal. be careful! watch out for danger!
–adjective
39.first in rank or position; chief; leading; principal: a head official.
40.of, pertaining to, or for the head (often used in combination): head covering; headgear; headpiece.
41.situated at the top, front, or head of anything (often used in combination): headline; headboard.
42.moving or coming from a direction in front of the head or prow of a vessel: head sea; head tide; head current.
43.Slang. of or pertaining to drugs, drug paraphernalia, or drug users.
–verb (used with object)
44.to go at the head of or in front of; lead; precede: to head a list.
45.to outdo or excel; take the lead in or over: to head a race; to head one's competitors in a field.
46.to be the head or chief of (sometimes fol. by up): to head a school; to head up a department.
47.to direct the course of; turn the head or front of in a specified direction: I'll head the boat for the shore. Head me in the right direction and I'll walk to the store.
48.to go around the head of (a stream).
49.to furnish or fit with a head.
50.to take the head off; decapitate; behead.
51.to remove the upper branches of (a tree).
52.Fox Hunting. to turn aside (a fox) from its intended course.
53.to get in front of in order to stop, turn aside, attack, etc.
54.headline (def. 4).
55.Soccer. to propel (the ball) by striking it with the head, esp. with the forehead.
–verb (used without object)
56.to move forward toward a point specified; direct one's course; go in a certain direction: to head toward town.
57.to come or grow to a head; form a head: Cabbage heads quickly.
58.(of a river or stream) to have the head or source where specified.
—Verb phrase
59.head off, to go before in order to hinder the progress of; intercept: The police headed off the fleeing driver at a railroad crossing.
—Idioms
60.by or down by the head, Nautical. so loaded as to draw more water forward than aft.
61.come to a head,
a.to suppurate, as a boil.
b.to reach a crisis; culminate: The struggle for power came to a head.
62.get one's head together, Slang. to have one's actions, thoughts, or emotions under control or in order: If he'd get his head together, maybe he'd get to work on time.
63.give head, Slang: Vulgar. perform fellatio.
64.give someone his or her head, to permit someone to do as he or she likes; allow someone freedom of choice: She wanted to go away to college, and her parents gave her her head.
65.go to someone's head,
a.to make someone dizzy or drunk; overcome one with excitement: Power went to his head. The brandy went to his head.
b.to make someone conceited or self-important: Success went to his head.
66.hang one's head, to become dejected or ashamed: When he realized what an unkind thing he had done, he hung his head in shame. Also, hide one's head.
67.head and shoulders,
a.far better, more qualified, etc.; superior: In intelligence, he was head and shoulders above the rest of the children in the class.
b.Archaic. by force.
68.head over heels,
a.headlong, as in a somersault: He tripped and fell head over heels into the gully.
b.intensely; completely: head over heels in love.
c.impulsively; carelessly: They plunged head over heels into the fighting.
69.head to head, in direct opposition or competition: The candidates will debate head to head.
70.keep one's head, to remain calm or poised, as in the midst of crisis or confusion: It was fortunate that someone kept his head and called a doctor.
71.keep one's head above water, to remain financially solvent: Despite their debts, they are managing to keep their heads above water.
72.lay or put heads together, to meet in order to discuss, consult, or scheme: Neither of them had enough money for a tour of Europe, so they put their heads together and decided to find jobs there.
73.lose one's head, to become uncontrolled or wildly excited: When he thought he saw an animal in the underbrush, he lost his head and began shooting recklessly.
74.make head, to progress or advance, esp. despite opposition; make headway: There have been many delays, but we are at last making head.
75.make heads roll, to exert authority by firing or dismissing employees or subordinates: He made heads roll as soon as he took office.
76.not make head or tail of, to be unable to understand or decipher: We couldn't make head or tail of the strange story. Also, not make heads or tails of.
77.off the top of one's head, candidly or extemporaneously: Off the top of my head, I'd say that's right.
78.one's head off, extremely; excessively: We screamed our heads off at that horror movie. He laughed his head off at the monkey's antics.
79.on one's head, as one's responsibility or fault: Because of his reckless driving he now has the deaths of three persons on his head.
80.out of one's head or mind,
a.insane; crazy.
b.Informal. delirious; irrational: You're out of your head if you accept those terms.
81.over one's head,
a.beyond one's comprehension, ability, or resources: The classical allusion went right over his head.
b.beyond one's financial resources or ability to pay: He's lost over his head in that poker game.
82.over someone's head, to appeal to someone having a superior position or prior claim: She went over her supervisor's head and complained to a vice president.
83.pull one's head in, Australian Slang. to keep quiet or mind one's own business; shut up.
84.take it into one's head, to form a notion, purpose, or plan: She took it into her head to study medicine. Also, take into one's head.
85.turn someone's head,
a.to cause someone to become smug or conceited: Her recent success has completely turned her head.
b.to cause one to become foolish or confused: A whirlwind romance has quite turned his head.
[Origin: bef. 900; ME he(v)ed, OE héafod; c. OHG houbit, Goth haubith; akin to OE hafud- (in hafudland headland), ON hǫfuth, L caput (see capital1)]

—Related forms
headlike, adjective

—Synonyms 5. commander, superior, master, principal, superintendent, president, chairman. 39. cardinal, foremost, supreme, main. 45. surpass, beat. 46. direct, command, rule, govern.
—Antonyms 1. foot. 39. subordinate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Head

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
Head    Audio Help   [hed] Pronunciation Key
–noun
Edith, 1897–1981, U.S. costume designer.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
head    Audio Help   (hěd)  Pronunciation Key 
n.  
    1. The uppermost or forwardmost part of the body of a vertebrate, containing the brain and the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and jaws.
    2. The analogous part of an invertebrate organism.
    3. The length or height of such a part: The horse lost by a head. She is two heads taller than he is.
    4. A habitual drug user. Often used in combination: a dopehead.
    5. An enthusiast. Often used in combination: a chilihead.
    6. An individual; a person: charged five dollars a head.
    7. pl. head A single animal: 20 head of cattle.
    8. A person who leads, rules, or is in charge; a leader, chief, or director: the head of the corporation.
    9. A headmaster or headmistress.
    10. The difference in depth of a liquid at two given points.
    11. Abbr. hd. The measure of pressure at the lower point expressed in terms of this difference.
    12. The pressure exerted by a liquid or gas: a head of steam.
    13. The liquid or gas exerting the pressure.
    14. A projection, weight, or fixture at the end of an elongated object: the head of a pin; a head of land overlooking the harbor.
    15. The working end of a tool or implement: the head of a hammer.
    16. The part of an explosive device that carries the explosive; a warhead.
    17. The part of a stringed instrument where the strings are wound; a tuning head.
    18. A tuning machine.
    19. The rounded proximal end of a long bone: the head of the femur.
    20. The end of a muscle that is attached to the less movable part of the skeleton.
    21. An attachment to or part of a machine that holds or contains the operative device.
    22. The magnetic head of a tape recorder or VCR.
    23. The device in a magnetic disk or tape drive that enables it to read data from and write data to the disk or tape.
    24. The forward part of a vessel.
    25. The top part or upper edge of a sail.
    26. The top of a book or page.
    27. A headline or heading.
    28. A distinct topic or category: under the head of recent Spanish history.
  2. The seat of the faculty of reason; intelligence, intellect, or mind: I did the figuring in my head.
  3. Mental ability or aptitude: She has a good head for mathematics.
  4. Freedom of choice or action: Give the child his head and see how well he solves the problems.
  5. Slang
    1. A habitual drug user. Often used in combination: a dopehead.
    2. An enthusiast. Often used in combination: a chilihead.
    3. An individual; a person: charged five dollars a head.
    4. pl. head A single animal: 20 head of cattle.
    5. A person who leads, rules, or is in charge; a leader, chief, or director: the head of the corporation.
    6. A headmaster or headmistress.
    7. The difference in depth of a liquid at two given points.
    8. Abbr. hd. The measure of pressure at the lower point expressed in terms of this difference.
    9. The pressure exerted by a liquid or gas: a head of steam.
    10. The liquid or gas exerting the pressure.
    11. A projection, weight, or fixture at the end of an elongated object: the head of a pin; a head of land overlooking the harbor.
    12. The working end of a tool or implement: the head of a hammer.
    13. The part of an explosive device that carries the explosive; a warhead.
    14. The part of a stringed instrument where the strings are wound; a tuning head.
    15. A tuning machine.
    16. The rounded proximal end of a long bone: the head of the femur.
    17. The end of a muscle that is attached to the less movable part of the skeleton.
    18. An attachment to or part of a machine that holds or contains the operative device.
    19. The magnetic head of a tape recorder or VCR.
    20. The device in a magnetic disk or tape drive that enables it to read data from and write data to the disk or tape.
    21. The forward part of a vessel.
    22. The top part or upper edge of a sail.
    23. The top of a book or page.
    24. A headline or heading.
    25. A distinct topic or category: under the head of recent Spanish history.
  6. A person considered foolish or contemptible. Often used in combination: a chowderhead.
  7. A portrait or representation of a person's head.
  8. (used with a sing. verb) The side of a coin having the principal design, often of the head of a famous person, and the date. Often used in the plural with a singular verb.
  9. Informal A headache: had a bad head early this morning.
    1. An individual; a person: charged five dollars a head.
    2. pl. head A single animal: 20 head of cattle.
    3. A person who leads, rules, or is in charge; a leader, chief, or director: the head of the corporation.
    4. A headmaster or headmistress.
    5. The difference in depth of a liquid at two given points.
    6. Abbr. hd. The measure of pressure at the lower point expressed in terms of this difference.
    7. The pressure exerted by a liquid or gas: a head of steam.
    8. The liquid or gas exerting the pressure.
    9. A projection, weight, or fixture at the end of an elongated object: the head of a pin; a head of land overlooking the harbor.
    10. The working end of a tool or implement: the head of a hammer.
    11. The part of an explosive device that carries the explosive; a warhead.
    12. The part of a stringed instrument where the strings are wound; a tuning head.
    13. A tuning machine.
    14. The rounded proximal end of a long bone: the head of the femur.
    15. The end of a muscle that is attached to the less movable part of the skeleton.
    16. An attachment to or part of a machine that holds or contains the operative device.
    17. The magnetic head of a tape recorder or VCR.
    18. The device in a magnetic disk or tape drive that enables it to read data from and write data to the disk or tape.
    19. The forward part of a vessel.
    20. The top part or upper edge of a sail.
    21. The top of a book or page.
    22. A headline or heading.
    23. A distinct topic or category: under the head of recent Spanish history.
    1. A person who leads, rules, or is in charge; a leader, chief, or director: the head of the corporation.
    2. A headmaster or headmistress.
    3. The difference in depth of a liquid at two given points.
    4. Abbr. hd. The measure of pressure at the lower point expressed in terms of this difference.
    5. The pressure exerted by a liquid or gas: a head of steam.
    6. The liquid or gas exerting the pressure.
    7. A projection, weight, or fixture at the end of an elongated object: the head of a pin; a head of land overlooking the harbor.
    8. The working end of a tool or implement: the head of a hammer.
    9. The part of an explosive device that carries the explosive; a warhead.
    10. The part of a stringed instrument where the strings are wound; a tuning head.
    11. A tuning machine.
    12. The rounded proximal end of a long bone: the head of the femur.
    13. The end of a muscle that is attached to the less movable part of the skeleton.
    14. An attachment to or part of a machine that holds or contains the operative device.
    15. The magnetic head of a tape recorder or VCR.
    16. The device in a magnetic disk or tape drive that enables it to read data from and write data to the disk or tape.
    17. The forward part of a vessel.
    18. The top part or upper edge of a sail.
    19. The top of a book or page.
    20. A headline or heading.
    21. A distinct topic or category: under the head of recent Spanish history.
  12. The foremost or leading position: marched at the head of the parade.
  13. A headwaiter.
    1. The difference in depth of a liquid at two given points.
    2. Abbr. hd. The measure of pressure at the lower point expressed in terms of this difference.
    3. The pressure exerted by a liquid or gas: a head of steam.
    4. The liquid or gas exerting the pressure.
    5. A projection, weight, or fixture at the end of an elongated object: the head of a pin; a head of land overlooking the harbor.
    6. The working end of a tool or implement: the head of a hammer.
    7. The part of an explosive device that carries the explosive; a warhead.
    8. The part of a stringed instrument where the strings are wound; a tuning head.
    9. A tuning machine.
    10. The rounded proximal end of a long bone: the head of the femur.
    11. The end of a muscle that is attached to the less movable part of the skeleton.
    12. An attachment to or part of a machine that holds or contains the operative device.
    13. The magnetic head of a tape recorder or VCR.
    14. The device in a magnetic disk or tape drive that enables it to read data from and write data to the disk or tape.
    15. The forward part of a vessel.
    16. The top part or upper edge of a sail.
    17. The top of a book or page.
    18. A headline or heading.
    19. A distinct topic or category: under the head of recent Spanish history.
  15. The froth or foam that rises to the top in pouring an effervescent liquid, such as beer.
  16. The tip of an abscess, boil, or pimple, in which pus forms.
  17. A turning point; a crisis: bring matters to a head. See Synonyms at crisis.
    1. A projection, weight, or fixture at the end of an elongated object: the head of a pin; a head of land overlooking the harbor.
    2. The working end of a tool or implement: the head of a hammer.
    3. The part of an explosive device that carries the explosive; a warhead.
    4. The part of a stringed instrument where the strings are wound; a tuning head.
    5. A tuning machine.
    6. The rounded proximal end of a long bone: the head of the femur.
    7. The end of a muscle that is attached to the less movable part of the skeleton.
    8. An attachment to or part of a machine that holds or contains the operative device.
    9. The magnetic head of a tape recorder or VCR.
    10. The device in a magnetic disk or tape drive that enables it to read data from and write data to the disk or tape.
    11. The forward part of a vessel.
    12. The top part or upper edge of a sail.
    13. The top of a book or page.
    14. A headline or heading.
    15. A distinct topic or category: under the head of recent Spanish history.
  19. Anatomy
    1. The rounded proximal end of a long bone: the head of the femur.
    2. The end of a muscle that is attached to the less movable part of the skeleton.
    3. An attachment to or part of a machine that holds or contains the operative device.
    4. The magnetic head of a tape recorder or VCR.
    5. The device in a magnetic disk or tape drive that enables it to read data from and write data to the disk or tape.
    6. The forward part of a vessel.
    7. The top part or upper edge of a sail.
    8. The top of a book or page.
    9. A headline or heading.
    10. A distinct topic or category: under the head of recent Spanish history.
    1. An attachment to or part of a machine that holds or contains the operative device.
    2. The magnetic head of a tape recorder or VCR.
    3. The device in a magnetic disk or tape drive that enables it to read data from and write data to the disk or tape.
    4. The forward part of a vessel.
    5. The top part or upper edge of a sail.
    6. The top of a book or page.
    7. A headline or heading.
    8. A distinct topic or category: under the head of recent Spanish history.
  21. A rounded compact mass, as of leaves or buds: a head of cabbage.
  22. Botany A flower head.
  23. The uppermost part; the top: Place the appropriate name at the head of each column.
  24. The end considered the most important: sat at the head of the table.
  25. Either end of an object, such as a drum, whose two ends are interchangeable.
  26. Nautical
    1. The forward part of a vessel.
    2. The top part or upper edge of a sail.
    3. The top of a book or page.
    4. A headline or heading.
    5. A distinct topic or category: under the head of recent Spanish history.
  27. A toilet, especially on a ship.
  28. A passage or gallery in a coal mine.
  29. Abbr. hd. Printing
    1. The top of a book or page.
    2. A headline or heading.
    3. A distinct topic or category: under the head of recent Spanish history.
  30. Headway; progress.
  31. Linguistics The word in a construction that has the same grammatical function as the construction as a whole and that determines relationships of concord to other parts of the construction or sentence in which the construction occurs.
  32. Vulgar Slang Oral sex.

adj.  
  1. Of, relating to, or intended for the head. Often used in combination: headshaking; headwrap.
  2. Foremost in rank or importance: the head librarian.
  3. Placed at the top or the front: the head name on the list.
  4. Slang Of, relating to, or for drugs or drug users.

v.   head·ed, head·ing, heads

v.   tr.
  1. To be in charge of; lead: The minister headed the committee.
  2. To be in the first or foremost position of: Collins heads the list of job candidates.
  3. To aim, point, or turn in a certain direction: headed the team of horses up the hill.
  4. To remove the head or top of.
  5. Sports To hit (a soccer ball) in the air with one's head.
  6. To provide with a head: head each column with a number; headed the flagpole with a golden ball.

v.   intr.
  1. To proceed or go in a certain direction: head for town.
  2. To form a head, as lettuce or cabbage.
  3. To originate, as a stream or river; rise.

Phrasal Verb(s):
head off
To block the progress or completion of; intercept: Try to head him off before he gets home. The town headed off the attempt to build another mall.

Idiom(s):
have a big/swelled head
To be overly self-confident or conceited.

Idiom(s):
head and shoulders above
Far superior to: head and shoulders above her colleagues in analytical capability.

Idiom(s):
head over heels
  1. Rolling, as in a somersault: tripped and fell head over heels.
  2. Completely; hopelessly: head over heels in love.

Idiom(s):
keep (one's) head
To remain calm; remain in control of oneself.

Idiom(s):
lose (one's) head
To lose one's poise or self-control.

Idiom(s):
off/out of (one's) head
Insane; crazy.

Idiom(s):
on (one's) head
As one's responsibility or fault: If this project fails, it's on your head.

Idiom(s):
over (one's) head
  1. Beyond one's comprehension.
  2. Beyond one's financial means.

Idiom(s):
put heads together
To consult and plan together: Let's put our heads together and solve this problem.

[Middle English, from Old English hēafod; see kaput- in Indo-European roots.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Head    Audio Help   (hěd)  Pronunciation Key 
American costume designer for more than 1,000 motion pictures, including All About Eve (1950) and A Place in the Sun (1951).

(Download Now or Buy the Book)
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
head 
O.E. heafod "top of the body," also "upper end of a slope," also "chief person, leader, ruler," from P.Gmc. *khaubuthan (cf. O.S. hobid, O.N. hofuð, O.Fris. haved, Ger. Haupt, Goth. haubiþ "head"), from PIE *kauput- "head" (cf. Skt. kaput-, L. caput "head"), also "bowl" (as in skull). Modern spelling is c.1420, representing what was then a long vowel (as in heat). Meaning "obverse of a coin" is from 1684; meaning "foam on a mug of beer" is first attested 1545; meaning "toilet" is from 1748, based on location of crew toilet in the bow (or head) of a ship. Synechdochic use for "person" (as in head count) is first attested 1535; of cattle, etc., in this sense from 1513. To give head "perform fellatio" is from 1950s. Meaning "drug addict" (usually in a compound with the preferred drug as the first element) is from 1911. The verb head "to shape one's course toward" (1835) was originally nautical. Header "head-first dive or plunge" first attested 1849. Headlight is from 1861, originally of ships and locomotives. Headquarters is from 1647. Headstrong "determined to have one's way" is from 1398. Headroom "space above the head" first recorded 1851. Headphone is 1914, with second element extracted from telephone. Phrase head over heels is "a curious perversion" [Weekley] of M.E. heels over head. Phrase heads will roll "people will be punished" (1930) translates Adolf Hitler.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
head

noun
1. the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains; "he stuck his head out the window" 
2. a single domestic animal; "200 head of cattle" 
3. that which is responsible for one's thoughts and feelings; the seat of the faculty of reason; "his mind wandered"; "I couldn't get his words out of my head" [syn: mind] 
4. a person who is in charge; "the head of the whole operation" 
5. the front of a military formation or procession; "the head of the column advanced boldly"; "they were at the head of the attack" [ant: rear] 
6. the pressure exerted by a fluid; "a head of steam" 
7. the top of something; "the head of the stairs"; "the head of the page"; "the head of the list" [ant: foot] 
8. the source of water from which a stream arises; "they tracked him back toward the head of the stream" [syn: fountainhead] 
9. (grammar) the word in a grammatical constituent that plays the same grammatical role as the whole constituent 
10. the tip of an abscess (where the pus accumulates) 
11. the length or height based on the size of a human or animal head; "he is two heads taller than his little sister"; "his horse won by a head" 
12. a dense cluster of flowers or foliage; "a head of cauliflower"; "a head of lettuce" [syn: capitulum] 
13. the educator who has executive authority for a school; "she sent unruly pupils to see the principal" [syn: principal] 
14. an individual person; "tickets are $5 per head" 
15. a user of (usually soft) drugs; "the office was full of secret heads" 
16. a natural elevation (especially a rocky one that juts out into the sea) [syn: promontory] 
17. a rounded compact mass; "the head of a comet" 
18. the foam or froth that accumulates at the top when you pour an effervescent liquid into a container; "the beer had a large head of foam" 
19. the part in the front or nearest the viewer; "he was in the forefront"; "he was at the head of the column" [syn: forefront] 
20. a difficult juncture; "a pretty pass"; "matters came to a head yesterday" [syn: pass] 
21. forward movement; "the ship made little headway against the gale" [syn: headway] 
22. a V-shaped mark at one end of an arrow pointer; "the point of the arrow was due north" [syn: point] 
23. the subject matter at issue; "the question of disease merits serious discussion"; "under the head of minor Roman poets" [syn: question] 
24. a line of text serving to indicate what the passage below it is about; "the heading seemed to have little to do with the text" [syn: heading] 
25. the rounded end of a bone that fits into a rounded cavity in another bone to form a joint; "the head of the humerus" 
26. that part of a skeletal muscle that is away from the bone that it moves 
27. (computer science) a tiny electromagnetic coil and metal pole used to write and read magnetic patterns on a disk [syn: read/write head] 
28. (usually plural) the obverse side of a coin that usually bears the representation of a person's head; "call heads or tails!" [ant: tail] 
29. the striking part of a tool; "the head of the hammer" 
30. (nautical) a toilet on board a boat or ship 
31. a projection out from one end; "the head of the nail", "a pinhead is the head of a pin" 
32. a membrane that is stretched taut over a drum [syn: drumhead] 
33. oral stimulation of the genitals; "they say he gives good head" [syn: oral sex] 

verb
1. to go or travel towards; "where is she heading"; "We were headed for the mountains" 
2. be in charge of; "Who is heading this project?" 
3. travel in front of; go in advance of others; "The procession was headed by John" [syn: lead] 
4. be the first or leading member of (a group) and excel; "This student heads the class" 
5. direct the course; determine the direction of travelling 
6. take its rise; "These rivers head from a mountain range in the Himalayas" 
7. be in the front of or on top of; "The list was headed by the name of the president" 
8. form a head or come or grow to a head; "The wheat headed early this year" 
9. remove the head of; "head the fish" 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

head

In addition to the idioms beginning with head, also see beat into someone's head; beat one's head against the wall; big head; bite someone's head off; bring to a head; can't make head or tail of; count noses (heads); do blindfolded (standing on one's head); enter one's mind (head); eyes in the back of one's head; from head to toe; get into one's head; get one's head examined; get through one's head; give someone his or her head; good head on one's shoulders; go to one's head; hang one's head; hang over (one's head); have a head for; have a screw loose (head screwed on right); hide one's head; hide one's head in the sand; hit the nail on the head; hold a gun to someone's head; hold one's head high; in over one's head; keep one's head; laugh one's head off; like a chicken with its head cut off; lose one's head; make one's head spin; need like a hole in the head; not right in the head; off one's head; off the top of one's head; on one's head; on the block (put one's head); over one's head; price on one's head; put ideas in someone's head; put our heads together; rear its ugly head; rocks in one's head; roof over one's head; scratch one's head; shake one's head; soft in the head; swelled head; talk someone's arm (head) off; throw oneself (at someone's head); touched in the head; trouble one's head; turn one's head; upside the head; use one's head.


The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
head1 [hed] noun
the top part of the human body, containing the eyes, mouth, brain etc; the same part of an animal's body
Example: The stone hit him on the head; He scratched his head in amazement.
Arabic: رأْس
Chinese (Simplified): 头
Chinese (Traditional): 頭
Czech: hlava
Danish: hoved
Dutch: hoofd, kop
Estonian: pea
Finnish: pää
French: tête
German: der Kopf
Greek: κεφάλι
Hungarian: fej
Icelandic: höfuð, haus
Indonesian: kepala
Italian: testa
Japanese: 頭部
Korean: 머리, 두부
Latvian: galva
Lithuanian: galva
Norwegian: hode
Polish: głowa
Portuguese (Brazil): cabeça
Portuguese (Portugal): cabeça
Romanian: cap
Russian: голова
Slovak: hlava
Slovenian: glava
Spanish: cabeza
Swedish: huvud, skalle
Turkish: baş, kafa
head2 [hed] noun
a person's mind
Example: An idea came into my head last night.
Arabic: عَقْل
Chinese (Simplified): 头脑
Chinese (Traditional): 頭腦
Czech: hlava
Danish: hoved
Dutch: hoofd, kop
Estonian: meel
Finnish: mieli
French: esprit
German: der Kopf
Greek: μυαλό
Hungarian: ész
Icelandic: hugur, heili
Indonesian: pikiran
Italian: testa
Japanese: 頭
Korean: 머리(속)
Latvian: prāts
Lithuanian: galva
Norwegian: hode, sinn, hjerne
Polish: głowa
Portuguese (Brazil): cabeça
Portuguese (Portugal): cabeça
Romanian: minte
Russian: ум
Slovak: hlava
Slovenian: pamet
Spanish: cabeza, mente
Swedish: huvud
Turkish: akıl
head3 [hed] noun
the height or length of a head
Example: The horse won by a head.
Arabic: إرْتِفاع أو طول الرأس
Chinese (Simplified): 头
Chinese (Traditional): 一頭的高度
Czech: hlava
Danish: hovedlængde
Dutch: hoofdlengte
Estonian: peajagu
Finnish: päänmitta
French: tête
German: die Kopflänge
Greek: απόσταση κεφαλής
Hungarian: fejhosszal
Icelandic: hauslengd
Indonesian: kepala
Italian: testa
Japanese: 頭差
Korean: 머리 (하나만큼의) 길이
Latvian: apsteigt par galvas tiesu (zirgu skriešanās sacīkstēs)
Lithuanian: galvos ilgis
Norwegian: hodelengde
Polish: długość łba
Portuguese (Brazil): cabeça
Portuguese (Portugal): cabeça
Romanian: (o lungime de) cap
Russian: голова
Slovak: dĺžka (hlavy)
Slovenian: dolžina glave
Spanish: cabeza
Swedish: huvud
Turkish: kafa boyu
head4 [hed] noun
the chief or most important person (of an organization, country etc)
Example: Kings and presidents are heads of state; (also adjective) a head waiter; the head office
Arabic: الرَّئيس أو أهم شَخْص
Chinese (Simplified): 首脑
Chinese (Traditional): 首腦
Czech: hlava; vrchní, hlavní
Danish: chef; overhoved; over-; hoved-
Dutch: hoofd, leider, voornaamste, chef
Estonian: juht, pea-
Finnish: päämies, pää-
French: chef; principal
German: das (Ober-)Haupt; Ober…
Greek: επικεφαλής, προϊστάμενος
Hungarian: vezető
Icelandic: yfirmaður, leiðtogi, höfuð; yfir-, aðal-
Indonesian: kepala
Italian: capo; direttore, direttrice
Japanese: 首長
Korean: 우두머리
Latvian: galva; vadītājs; priekšnieks; galvenais-; vecākais-
Lithuanian: vadovas, galva, vyriausiasis
Norwegian: (stats)overhode, hoved-, over-
Polish: głowa, główny
Portuguese (Brazil): cabeça, chefe
Portuguese (Portugal): chefe
Romanian: lider; şef
Russian: глава
Slovak: hlava; hlavný, čelný
Slovenian: glava; glaven
Spanish: cabeza, jefe
Swedish: överhuvud, chefs-, huvud-
Turkish: baş, şef, reis, hükümdar
head5 [hed] noun
anything that is like a head in shape or position
Example: the head of a pin; The boy knocked the heads off the flowers.
Arabic: رأس
Chinese (Simplified): 头状物体
Chinese (Traditional): 頭狀物體
Czech: hlavička; vrchol
Danish: hoved
Dutch: hoofd, kop
Estonian: pea
Finnish: pää
French: tête
German: der Kopf
Greek: κεφάλι
Hungarian: fej(rész)
Icelandic: haus, kollur, toppur; karfa (á blómi)
Indonesian: kepala
Italian: testa
Japanese: 頭部
Korean: 머리(모양의) 부분
Latvian: (kniepadatas u.tml.) galviņa
Lithuanian: galvutė
Norwegian: hode, øverste del
Polish: główka
Portuguese (Brazil): cabeça
Portuguese (Portugal): cabeça
Romanian: capăt
Russian: головка
Slovak: hlavička
Slovenian: glava, glavica
Spanish: cabeza
Swedish: huvud, topp, spets, knopp, krona
Turkish: baş, tepe
head6 [hed] noun
the place where a river, lake etc begins
Example: the head of the Nile
Arabic: مَنْبَع النَهْر
Chinese (Simplified): 源头
Chinese (Traditional): 源頭
Czech: pramen; horní část toku
Danish: udspring
Dutch: kop van rivier, kop van meer
Estonian: algallikas
Finnish: alkupää
French: source
German: die Quelle
Greek: πηγή
Hungarian: forrás
Icelandic: árupptök
Indonesian: hulu
Italian: sorgente
Japanese: 源
Korean: 수원지
Latvian: (upes) izteka
Lithuanian: ištaka
Norwegian: kilde, utspring
Polish: góra
Portuguese (Brazil): nascente
Portuguese (Portugal): nascente
Romanian: izvor
Russian: верховье
Slovak: prameň
Slovenian: izvir
Spanish: fuente, nacimiento
Swedish: källa
Turkish: baş
head7 [hed] noun
the top, or the top part, of anything
Example: Write your address at the head of the paper; the head of the table
Arabic: رأس، أعْلى
Chinese (Simplified): 上端
Chinese (Traditional): 上端
Czech: záhlaví; čelo
Danish: det øverste af noget; top; ende
Dutch: bovenzijde, bovenaan
Estonian: ülaserv
Finnish: yläreuna, pää
French: tête, haut, bout
German: oberes Ende
Greek: κορυφή
Hungarian: vminek felső része
Icelandic: haus
Indonesian: atas
Italian: capo, cima; capotavola
Japanese: 上部
Korean: 상부
Latvian: augša; augšdaļa
Lithuanian: viršus, viršūnė, svarbiausia vieta
Norwegian: øverste del, *trinn, (bord)ende
Polish: góra, szczyt
Portuguese (Brazil): topo, cabeceira
Portuguese (Portugal): topo
Romanian: cap, partea de sus, început
Russian: верх, головная часть
Slovak: záhlavie; čelo
Slovenian: vrh
Spanish: cabecera, principio
Swedish: övre ända, övre del, huvudända
Turkish: baş, en üst
head8 [hed] noun
the front part
Example: He walked at the head of the procession.
Arabic: مُقَدِّمَة
Chinese (Simplified): 最前面部分
Chinese (Traditional): 前面部分
Czech: čelo
Danish: spids
Estonian: eesots
Finnish: kärki
French: (en) tête (de)
German: die Spitze
Greek: κεφαλή, το μπροστινό μέρος
Hungarian: elülső rész; él
Icelandic: fremsti hluti; fylkingarbrjóst
Indonesian: depan
Italian: testa
Japanese: 先頭
Korean: 앞 부분
Latvian: galvgalis; priekšgals
Lithuanian: priekis
Norwegian: fremste del, spiss
Polish: przód
Portuguese (Brazil): frente
Portuguese (Portugal): frente
Romanian: în fruntea
Russian: передняя часть
Slovak: čelo
Slovenian: čelo
Spanish: a la cabeza de, al frente de
Swedish: tät, spets
Turkish: ön, baş
head9 [hed] noun
a particular ability or tolerance
Example: He has no head for heights; She has a good head for figures.
Arabic: قُدْرَه
Chinese (Simplified): 才智
Chinese (Traditional): 才智
Czech: hlava, buňky, smysl
Danish: hoved
Dutch: voorkant, vooraan
Estonian: pea
Finnish: pää
French: bosse
German: die Begabung
Greek: ικανότητα
Hungarian: "fej" (képesség)
Icelandic: vit, skilningur
Indonesian: kemampuan
Italian: testa
Japanese: 才能
Korean: 능력, 분별
Latvian: spējas; saprašana
Lithuanian: galva, pakentimas
Norwegian: hode
Polish: głowa
Portuguese (Brazil): cabeça
Portuguese (Portugal): cabeça
Romanian: aptitudine
Russian: особый недостаток; особая способность
Slovak: hlava, zmysel
Slovenian: nadarjenost
Spanish: madera; cabeza
Swedish: ha svårt, *lätt för
Turkish: yetenek, kabiliyet
head10 [hed] noun
a headmaster or headmistress
Example: You'd better ask the Head.
Arabic: مُدير، مُديرَه
Chinese (Simplified): 校长
Chines