the upper or front part of the body in vertebrates, including man, that contains and protects the brain, eyes, mouth, and nose and ears when present
Related adjective: cephalic
the corresponding part of an invertebrate animal
something resembling a head in form or function, such as the top of a tool
- the person commanding most authority within a group, organization, etc
- (as modifier)head buyer
- (in combination)headmaster
the position of leadership or command
at the head of his class
- the most forward part of a thing; a part that juts out; frontthe head of a queue
- (as modifier)head point
the highest part of a thing; upper end
the head of the pass
the froth on the top of a glass of beer
aptitude, intelligence, and emotions (esp in the phrases above or over one's head, have a head for, keep one's head, lose one's head, etc)
she has a good head for figures; a wise old head
plural head
a person or animal considered as a unit
the show was two pounds per head; six hundred head of cattle
the head considered as a measure of length or height
he's a head taller than his mother
botany
- a dense inflorescence such as that of the daisy and other composite plants
- any other compact terminal part of a plant, such as the leaves of a cabbage or lettuce
a culmination or crisis (esp in the phrase bring or come to a head)
the pus-filled tip or central part of a pimple, boil, etc
the head considered as the part of the body on which hair grows densely
a fine head of hair
the source or origin of a river or stream
(capital when part of name)
a headland or promontory, esp a high one
the obverse of a coin, usually bearing a portrait of the head or a full figure of a monarch, deity, etc
Compare tail 1
a main point or division of an argument, discourse, etc
(often plural)
the headline at the top of a newspaper article or the heading of a section within an article
nautical
- the front part of a ship or boat
- (in sailing ships) the upper corner or edge of a sail
- the top of any spar or derrick
- any vertical timber cut to shape
- (often plural) a slang word for lavatory
the taut membrane of a drum, tambourine, etc
- the height of the surface of liquid above a specific point, esp when considered or used as a measure of the pressure at that pointa head of four feet
- pressure of water, caused by height or velocity, measured in terms of a vertical column of water
- any pressurea head of steam in the boiler
slang
- a person who regularly takes drugs, esp LSD or cannabis
- (in combination)an acidhead; a pothead
mining
a road driven into the coal face
- the terminal point of a route
- (in combination)railhead
a device on a turning or boring machine, such as a lathe, that is equipped with one or more cutting tools held to the work by this device
an electromagnet that can read, write, or erase information on a magnetic medium such as a magnetic tape, disk, or drum, used in computers, tape recorders, etc
- the head of a horse considered as a narrow margin in the outcome of a race (in the phrase win by a head)
- any narrow margin of victory (in the phrase (win) by a head)
curling
the stones lying in the house after all 16 have been played
bowls
the jack and the bowls that have been played considered together as a target area
against the head rugby
from the opposing side's put-in to the scrum
bite someone's head off or snap someone's head off
to speak sharply and angrily to someone
(bring or come to a head)
- to bring or be brought to a crisismatters came to a head
- (of a boil) to cause to be or be about to burst
get it into one's head
to come to believe (an idea, esp a whimsical one)
he got it into his head that the earth was flat
give head slang
to perform fellatio
give someone his head
to allow a person greater freedom or responsibility
give a horse its head
to allow a horse to gallop by lengthening the reins
go to one's head
- to make one dizzy or confused, as might an alcoholic drink
- to make one conceitedhis success has gone to his head
head and shoulders above
greatly superior to
head over heels
- turning a complete somersault
- completely; utterly (esp in the phrase head over heels in love)
hold up one's head
to be unashamed
keep one's head
to remain calm
keep one's head above water
to manage to survive a difficult experience
make head
to make progress
make head or tail of (used with a negative)
to attempt to understand (a problem, etc)
he couldn't make head or tail of the case
off one's head or out of one's head slang
insane or delirious
off the top of one's head
without previous thought; impromptu
on one's head or on one's own head
at one's (own) risk or responsibility
one's head off slang
loudly or excessively
the baby cried its head off
over someone's head
- without a person in the obvious position being considered, esp for promotionthe graduate was promoted over the heads of several of his seniors
- without consulting a person in the obvious position but referring to a higher authorityin making his complaint he went straight to the director, over the head of his immediate boss
- beyond a person's comprehension
put their heads together informal
to consult together
take it into one's head
to conceive a notion, desire, or wish (to do something)
turn heads
to be so beautiful, unusual, or impressive as to attract a lot of attention
turn something on its head or stand something on its head
to treat or present something in a completely new and different way
health care which has turned orthodox medicine on its head
turn someone's head
to make someone vain, conceited, etc
