horn
noun /hɔːn/
/hɔːrn/
Idioms 
enlarge image[countable] a hard pointed part that grows, usually in pairs, on the heads of some animals, such as sheep and cows. Horns are often curved.- a large bull with curved horns
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- buffalo
- bull’s
- cow’s
- …
- [uncountable] the hard substance of which animal horns are made
- ornaments made of rhino horn
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- buffalo
- bull’s
- cow’s
- …
enlarge image[countable] a device in a vehicle for making a loud sound as a warning or signal- to honk your car horn
- (British English) to sound/toot your horn
- Behind him, a horn blared.
Extra ExamplesTopics Transport by car or lorryc1- He gave a furious blast on his horn.
- Impatient horn blasts began to sound behind him.
- Passing motorists honked their horns.
- She flashed her lights and honked her horn at the car in front.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- car
- beep
- blare
- blow
- …
- beep
- blare
- honk
- …
- blast
- on a/the horn
- [countable] a simple musical instrument that consists of a curved metal tube that you blow into
- a hunting horn
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + horn- blow
- section
- (especially British English) (also French horn British and North American English)[countable] a brass musical instrument that consists of a long tube curled around in a circle with a wide opening at the end
- a horn concerto
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + horn- blow
- section
Word OriginOld English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hoorn and German Horn, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin cornu and Greek keras.
Idioms
blow/toot your own horn (North American English)
(also blow your own trumpet especially in British English)
- (informal) to praise your own abilities and achievements synonym boast
draw/pull your horns in
- to start being more careful in your behaviour, especially by spending less money than before
- Small businesses have had to pull their horns in during the recession.
lock horns (with somebody) (over something)
- to get involved in an argument with somebody
- The company has locked horns with the unions over proposed pay cuts.
on the horns of a dilemma
- in a situation in which you have to make a choice between things that are equally unpleasant
- The medical profession’s eagerness for scientific advance had impaled it on the horns of a dilemma, forcing an unnatural choice between science and morality.
- The dire economic situation had placed the prime minister on the horns of a dilemma.
take the bull by the horns
- to face a difficult or dangerous situation directly and with courage
- Nora decided to take the bull by the horns and organize things for herself.