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head

- 18 dictionary results

head

  [hed]
Use head in a Sentence
–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 tail 1 (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 hēafod; c. OHG houbit, Goth haubith; akin to OE hafud- (in hafudland headland), ON hǫfuth, L caput (see capital 1 )

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.

Head

  [hed]
–noun
Edith, 1897–1981, U.S. costume designer.

-head

 
a native English suffix meaning “state of being” (godhead; maidenhead), occurring in words now mostly archaic or obsolete, many being superseded by forms in -hood.
Origin:
ME -hede, OE *-hǣdu, f. of -hād -hood

crown

  [kroun]
–noun
1. any of various types of headgear worn by a monarch as a symbol of sovereignty, often made of precious metal and ornamented with valuable gems.
2. a similar ornamental headgear worn by a person designated king or queen in a pageant, contest, etc.
3. an ornamental wreath or circlet for the head, conferred by the ancients as a mark of victory, athletic or military distinction, etc.
4. the distinction that comes from a great achievement.
5. the power or dominion of a sovereign.
6. (often initial capital letter) the sovereign as head of the state, or the supreme governing power of a state under a monarchical government.
7. any crownlike emblem or design, as in a heraldic crest.
8. the top or highest part of anything, as of a hat or a mountain.
9. the top of the head: Jack fell down and broke his crown.
10. Dentistry.
a. the part of a tooth that is covered by enamel.
b. an artificial substitute, as of gold or porcelain, for the crown of a tooth.
11. the highest point of any construction of convex section or outline, as an arch, vault, deck, or road.
12. the highest or most nearly perfect state of anything.
13. an exalting or chief attribute.
14. the acme or supreme source of honor, excellence, beauty, etc.
15. something having the form of a crown, as the corona of a flower.
16. Botany.
a. the leaves and living branches of a tree.
b. the point at which the root of a seed plant joins the stem.
c. a circle of appendages on the throat of the corolla; corona.
17. the crest, as of a bird.
18. Architecture.
a. a termination of a tower consisting of a lanternlike steeple supported entirely by a number of flying buttresses.
b. any ornamental termination of a tower or turret.
19. Also called button. Horology. a knurled knob for winding a watch.
20. any of various coins bearing the figure of a crown or crowned head.
21. a former silver coin of the United Kingdom, equal to five shillings: retained in circulation equal to 25 new pence after decimalization in 1971.
22. the monetary unit of Denmark, Iceland, Norway, or Sweden: a krona or krone.
23. the koruna of Czechoslovakia.
24. a crimped metal bottle cap.
25. crown glass.
26. Cookery. crown roast.
27. Also called bezel, top. Jewelry. the part of a cut gem above the girdle.
28. a drill bit consisting of a metal matrix holding diamond chips.
29. Also called head. Nautical. the part of an anchor at which the arms join the shank.
30. Machinery.
a. a slight convexity given to a pulley supporting a flat belt in order to center the belt.
b. a slight convexity given to the outer faces of the teeth of two gears so that they mesh toward their centers rather than at the ends.
31. a size of printing paper, 15 × 20 in. (38 × 51 cm). Compare double crown.
32. Nautical, Machinery. swallow 1 (def. 12).
33. Knots. a knot made by interweaving the strands at the end of a rope, often made as the beginning of a back splice or as the first stage in tying a more elaborate knot.
34. a crownpiece.
–verb (used with object)
35. to invest with a regal crown, or with regal dignity and power.
36. to place a crown or garland upon the head of.
37. to honor or reward; invest with honor, dignity, etc.
38. to be at the top or highest part of.
39. to complete worthily; bring to a successful or triumphant conclusion: The award crowned his career.
40. Informal. to hit on the top of the head: She crowned her brother with a picture book.
41. to give to (a construction) an upper surface of convex section or outline.
42. to cap (a tooth) with a false crown.
43. Checkers. to change (a checker) into a king after having safely reached the last row.
44. Knots. to form a crown on (the end of a rope).
–verb (used without object)
45. Medicine/Medical. (of a baby in childbirth) to reach a stage in delivery where the largest diameter of the fetal head is emerging from the pelvic outlet.
Origin:
1125–75; ME coroune, cr(o)une < AF coroune < L corōna wreath; see corona

Related forms:
crownless, adjective

head⋅line

  [hed-lahyn] noun, verb, -lined, -lin⋅ing.
–noun Also called head.
1. a heading in a newspaper for any written material, sometimes for an illustration, to indicate subject matter, set in larger type than that of the copy and containing one or more words and lines and often several banks.
2. the largest such heading on the front page, usually at the top.
3. the line at the top of a page, containing the title, pagination, etc.
–verb (used with object)
4. to furnish with a headline; head.
5. to mention or name in a headline.
6. to publicize, feature, or star (a specific performer, product, etc.).
7. to be the star of (a show, nightclub act, etc.)
–verb (used without object)
8. to be the star of an entertainment.
Origin:
1620–30; head + line 1

read/write head

  [reed-rahyt]
–noun Computers.
an electromagnetic device, as in a disk or tape drive, that reads data from or writes data on a magnetic disk or tape.
Also called head.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To head
head   (hěd)   
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 offTo 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 headTo be overly self-confident or conceited.

Idiom(s):
head and shoulders aboveFar 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) headTo remain calm; remain in control of oneself.

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

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

Idiom(s):
on (one's) headAs 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 togetherTo 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.]
Head   (hěd)   
American costume designer for more than 1,000 motion pictures, including All About Eve (1950) and A Place in the Sun (1951).
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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head

, Dragon's tail \Drag"on's tail\ . See Dragon's blood, Dragon's head, etc., under Dragon.

Head

Head\, n. [OE. hed, heved, heaved, AS. he['a]fod; akin to D. hoofd, OHG. houbit, G. haupt, Icel. h["o]fu?, Sw. hufvud, Dan. hoved, Goth. haubip. The word does not corresponds regularly to L. caput head (cf. E. Chief, Cadet, Capital), and its origin is unknown.]

1. The anterior or superior part of an animal, containing the brain, or chief ganglia of the nervous system, the mouth, and in the higher animals, the chief sensory organs; poll; cephalon.

2. The uppermost, foremost, or most important part of an inanimate object; such a part as may be considered to resemble the head of an animal; often, also, the larger, thicker, or heavier part or extremity, in distinction from the smaller or thinner part, or from the point or edge; as, the head of a cane, a nail, a spear, an ax, a mast, a sail, a ship; that which covers and closes the top or the end of a hollow vessel; as, the head of a cask or a steam boiler.

3. The place where the head should go; as, the head of a bed, of a grave, etc.; the head of a carriage, that is, the hood which covers the head.

4. The most prominent or important member of any organized body; the chief; the leader; as, the head of a college, a school, a church, a state, and the like. "Their princes and heads." --Robynson (More's Utopia).

The heads of the chief sects of philosophy. --Tillotson.

Your head I him appoint. --Milton.

5. The place or honor, or of command; the most important or foremost position; the front; as, the head of the table; the head of a column of soldiers.

An army of fourscore thousand troops, with the duke Marlborough at the head of them. --Addison.

6. Each one among many; an individual; -- often used in a plural sense; as, a thousand head of cattle.

It there be six millions of people, there are about four acres for every head. --Graunt.

7. The seat of the intellect; the brain; the understanding; the mental faculties; as, a good head, that is, a good mind; it never entered his head, it did not occur to him; of his own head, of his own thought or will.

Men who had lost both head and heart. --Macaulay.

8. The source, fountain, spring, or beginning, as of a stream or river; as, the head of the Nile; hence, the altitude of the source, or the height of the surface, as of water, above a given place, as above an orifice at which it issues, and the pressure resulting from the height or from motion; sometimes also, the quantity in reserve; as, a mill or reservoir has a good head of water, or ten feet head; also, that part of a gulf or bay most remote from the outlet or the sea.

9. A headland; a promontory; as, Gay Head. --Shak.

10. A separate part, or topic, of a discourse; a theme to be expanded; a subdivision; as, the heads of a sermon.

11. Culminating point or crisis; hence, strength; force; height.

Ere foul sin, gathering head, shall break into corruption. --Shak.

The indisposition which has long hung upon me, is at last grown to such a head, that it must quickly make an end of me or of itself. --Addison.

12. Power; armed force.

My lord, my lord, the French have gathered head. --Shak.

13. A headdress; a covering of the head; as, a laced head; a head of hair. --Swift.

14. An ear of wheat, barley, or of one of the other small cereals.

15. (Bot.) (a) A dense cluster of flowers, as in clover, daisies, thistles; a capitulum. (b) A dense, compact mass of leaves, as in a cabbage or a lettuce plant.

16. The antlers of a deer.

17. A rounded mass of foam which rises on a pot of beer or other effervescing liquor. --Mortimer.

18. pl. Tiles laid at the eaves of a house. --Knight.

Note: Head is often used adjectively or in self-explaining combinations; as, head gear or headgear, head rest. Cf. Head, a.

A buck of the first head, a male fallow deer in its fifth year, when it attains its complete set of antlers. --Shak.

By the head. (Naut.) See under By.

Elevator head, Feed head, etc. See under Elevator, Feed, etc.

From head to foot, through the whole length of a man; completely; throughout. "Arm me, audacity, from head to foot." --Shak.

Head and ears, with the whole person; deeply; completely; as, he was head and ears in debt or in trouble. [Colloq.]

Head fast. (Naut.) See 5th Fast.

Head kidney (Anat.), the most anterior of the three pairs of embryonic renal organs developed in most vertebrates; the pronephros.

Head money, a capitation tax; a poll tax. --Milton.

Head pence, a poll tax. [Obs.]

Head sea, a sea that meets the head of a vessel or rolls against her course.

Head and shoulders. (a) By force; violently; as, to drag one, head and shoulders. "They bring in every figure of speech, head and shoulders." --Felton. (b) By the height of the head and shoulders; hence, by a great degree or space; by far; much; as, he is head and shoulders above them.

Head or tail, this side or that side; this thing or that; -- a phrase used in throwing a coin to decide a choice, guestion, or stake, head being the side of the coin bearing the effigy or principal figure (or, in case there is no head or face on either side, that side which has the date on it), and tail the other side.

Neither head nor tail, neither beginning nor end; neither this thing nor that; nothing distinct or definite; -- a phrase used in speaking of what is indefinite or confused; as, they made neither head nor tail of the matter. [Colloq.]

Head wind, a wind that blows in a direction opposite the vessel's course.

Out one's own head, according to one's own idea; without advice or co["o]peration of another.

Over the head of, beyond the comprehension of. --M. Arnold.

To be out of one's head, to be temporarily insane.

To come or draw to a head. See under Come, Draw.

To give (one) the head, or To give head, to let go, or to give up, control; to free from restraint; to give license. "He gave his able horse the head." --Shak. "He has so long given his unruly passions their head." --South.

To his head, before his face. "An uncivil answer from a son to a father, from an obliged person to a benefactor, is a greater indecency than if an enemy should storm his house or revile him to his head." --Jer. Taylor.

To lay heads together, to consult; to conspire.

To lose one's head, to lose presence of mind.

To make head, or To make head against, to resist with success; to advance.

To show one's head, to appear. --Shak.

To turn head, to turn the face or front. "The ravishers turn head, the fight renews." --Dryden.

Head

Head\, a. Principal; chief; leading; first; as, the head master of a school; the head man of a tribe; a head chorister; a head cook.

Head

Head\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Headed; p. pr. & vb. n. Heading.]

1. To be at the head of; to put one's self at the head of; to lead; to direct; to act as leader to; as, to head an army, an expedition, or a riot. --Dryden.

2. To form a head to; to fit or furnish with a head; as, to head a nail. --Spenser.

3. To behead; to decapitate. [Obs.] --Shak.

4. To cut off the top of; to lop off; as, to head trees.

5. To go in front of; to get in the front of, so as to hinder or stop; to oppose; hence, to check or restrain; as, to head a drove of cattle; to head a person; the wind heads a ship.

6. To set on the head; as, to head a cask.

To head off, to intercept; to get before; as, an officer heads off a thief who is escaping.

To head up, to close, as a cask or barrel, by fitting a head to.

Head

Head\, v. i. 1. To originate; to spring; to have its source, as a river.

A broad river, that heads in the great Blue Ridge. --Adair.

2. To go or point in a certain direction; to tend; as, how does the ship head?

3. To form a head; as, this kind of cabbage heads early.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : head
Spanish: cabeza,
German: der Kopf,
Japanese: 頭部
More Translations »

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
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Main Entry: head
Function: noun
: any of a number of individuals—by heads : with an equal share to each individual : PER CAPITA —used in the rules of intestate succession in Louisiana
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Main Entry: head
Pronunciation: 'hed
Function: noun
1 : the division of the human body that contains the brain, the eyes, the ears, the nose, and themouth; also : the corresponding anterior division of the body of various animals including all vertebrates, most arthropods, and many mollusks and worms
2 : HEADACHE
3 : a projection or extremity especially of an anatomical part: as a : the roundedproximal end of a long bone (as the humerus) b : the end of a muscle nearest the origin c : the anterior end of an invertebrate : SCOLEX
4 : the part of a boil, pimple, or abscess at which it is likely to break
5 : theend of a lipid molecule that consists of a polar group and is regarded as being opposite to the tail —head adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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head (hěd)
n.

  1. The uppermost or forwardmost part of the human body, containing the brain and the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and jaws.
  2. The analogous part of various vertebrate and invertebrate animals.
  3. The pus-containing tip of an abscess, a boil, or a pimple.
  4. The rounded proximal end of a long bone.
  5. The end of a muscle that is attached to the less movable part of the skeleton.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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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. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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