horn
(hôrn)
(hôrn)n.
1. One of the hard, usually permanent structures projecting from the head of certain mammals, such as cattle, sheep, goats, or antelopes, consisting of a bony core covered with a sheath of keratinous material.
2. A hard protuberance, such as an antler or projection on the head of a giraffe or rhinoceros, that is similar to or suggestive of a horn.
3.
a. The hard smooth keratinous material forming the outer covering of the horns of cattle or related animals.
b. A natural or synthetic substance resembling this material.
4. A container, such as a powder horn, made from a horn.
5. Something having the shape of a horn, especially:
a. A horn of plenty; a cornucopia.
b. Either of the ends of a new moon.
c. The point of an anvil.
d. The pommel of a saddle.
e. An ear trumpet.
f. A device for projecting sound waves, as in a loudspeaker.
g. A hollow, metallic electromagnetic transmission antenna with a circular or rectangular cross section.
6. Music
a. A wind instrument made of an animal horn.
b. A brass instrument, such as a trombone or tuba.
c. A French horn.
d. A wind instrument, such as a trumpet or saxophone, used in a jazz band.
7.
a. A usually electrical signaling device that produces a loud resonant sound:an automobile horn.
b. Any of various noisemakers operated by blowing or by squeezing a hollow rubber ball.
8. Slang A telephone.
intr.v.horned, horn·ing, horns
Idioms: To join without being invited; intrude. Used with in.
blow/toot(one's) own hornInformal
To brag or boast about oneself.
draw/haul/pullin (one's) hornsInformal
1. To restrain oneself; draw back.
2. To retreat from a previously taken position, view, or stance.
3. To economize.
on the horns of a dilemma
Faced with two equally undesirable alternatives.
[Middle English, fromOld English; see ker-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
hornadj.
hornistn.
horntop: white rhinoceros and bighorn sheep
bottom:western saddle
horn