headˈship noun

The position or office of head or chief

headˈy adjective

1. Affecting the brain
2. Intoxicating
3. Inflamed
4. Rash
5. Violent
6. Exciting

headˈache noun

1. A pain in the head
2. A source of worry (informal)

headˈachy adjective

headˈband noun

1. A band (eg of ribbon, or elastic or rigid material) for wearing around the head
2. A band round the top of trousers, etc
3. A band of cloth attached to each end of the spine of a book to strengthen it, or for decoration
4. A thin slip of iron on the tympan of a printing press

headˈbang intransitive verb

To shake one's head vigorously in time with loud rock music

headˈbanger noun (informal)

1. A person who is crazy, foolish, fanatical, etc
2. A fan of loud rock music

headˈbanging noun

The act of shaking the head vigorously in time with loud rock music

headˈboard noun

An often ornamental board or panel at the head of a bed

headˈ-boom noun

A jib boom or a flying jib boom

headˈborough noun (historical)

1. The head of a frank-pledge or tithing
2. A petty constable

head boy noun

The senior boy in a school

head-bummer see under bum³

headˈ-butt transitive verb

To strike (a person) violently with the head (also noun)

headˈcase noun (informal)

A person who is mad or crazy

head-centre see centre

headˈchair noun

A high-backed chair with a headrest

headˈcheese noun (US)

Brawn

headˈcloth noun

A kerchief worn instead of a hat

head cold noun

A cold that affects parts of the sufferer's head, such as the eyes or nasal passages

head count noun (informal)

A count of people, bodies, etc

headˈ-crash noun (computing)

The accidental contact of a computer head with the surface of a hard disk, damaging the data stored on it

head-down display noun (aeronautics)

A display, usu visual, mounted inside the cockpit to supplement the head-up display

headˈdress noun

1. A (sometimes ceremonial) covering for the head
2. A mode of dressing the hair (archaic)

headˈfast noun

A mooring rope at the bows of a ship

headˈframe noun

The structure over a mine-shaft supporting the winding machinery

headˈgear noun

1. Anything worn on the head
2. Apparatus at the head of a mine-shaft

head girl noun

The senior girl in a school

headˈ-hugger noun

A woman's close-fitting headgear of kerchief type

headˈhunt intransitive verb (informal)

1. To (attempt to) deprive a political opponent of power and influence (US)
2. (also transitive verb) to seek out and recruit (executives, etc) for a business or organization, esp to do so professionally as eg a management consultant

headˈhunter noun

headˈhunting noun

1. The practice of collecting human heads
2. The practice of trying to undermine one's opponent's power (US)
3. The seeking out of senior staff for one's organization

headlamp see headlight below.

headˈland noun

1. A point of land running out into the sea
2. A cape
3. The border of a field where the plough turns, ploughed separately afterwards

headˈlease noun

A main or original lease, which can be divided into subleases

headˈlight or headˈlamp noun

A strong light on the front of a vehicle

headˈline noun

1. A line at the top of a page containing title, folio, etc (printing)
2. The title of an article, esp a main article, in a newspaper, a caption
3. A news item given very briefly (radio and TV)
4. (in pl) the sails and ropes next to the yards

adjective

(likely to be) published or broadcast as a headline

transitive verb

1. To give as a headline, mention in a headline
2. To add a headline to
3. To publicize

intransitive verb

To be a headliner

headˈliner noun

The person whose name is made most prominent in a playbill or programme

headˈlock noun

A wrestling hold made by putting one's arm round one's opponent's head and tightening the grip by interlocking the fingers of both hands

headˈ-lugged adjective (Shakespeare)

Dragged by the head

headˈman noun

A chief, a leader (in primitive societies)

headˈmark noun

A peculiar characteristic

headmasˈter noun

The principal teacher of a school

headmasˈtership noun

headmisˈtress noun

headmisˈtress-ship noun

head money noun

1. A poll tax
2. A sum of money paid for each prisoner taken, or each slave delivered
3. A reward for a proscribed outlaw's head

headˈnote noun

1. A note placed at the head of a chapter or page, esp a condensed statement of points of law involved introductory to the report of a legal decision
2. A tone produced in the head register (music)

head of state noun

The chief representative of a country, not necessarily the head of government

head-onˈ adjective and adverb

1. Head to head, esp (of a collision) with the front of one vehicle, etc hitting the front of another, or (rarely) a stationary object
2. With head pointing directly forward
3. Directly opposed, confronting each other

headˈphone noun

(usu in pl) an audio receiver worn in pairs over the ears, esp for listening to a radio, MP3 player, etc

headˈpiece noun

1. A helmet
2. A hat
3. Head, skull (archaic; Spenser headˈpeace)
4. A brain
5. A man of intelligence
6. A top part
7. A decorative engraving at the beginning of a book, chapter, etc (printing)

headquarˈtered adjective

Having one's headquarters (in a specified place)

headquarˈters plural noun and singular noun

1. The quarters or residence of a commander-in-chief or general
2. A central or chief office of a company, etc

headˈrace noun

The channel leading to a water wheel or other hydraulically-operated machine

headˈrail noun

One of the rails at a ship's head

headˈreach noun

The distance made to windward in tacking

intransitive verb

To shoot ahead, in tacking

head register noun (music)

1. High register
2. Of the voice in which nose and head cavities vibrate sympathetically
3. (in male voice) falsetto

head rent noun

Rent payable to the freeholder

headˈrest noun

1. A support for the head
2. (also head restraint) a cushioned frame fitted to the top of a seat in a car, etc to prevent the head jerking back in a collision

headˈ-rhyme noun

Alliteration

headˈrig noun (Scot)

A headland in a ploughed field

headˈring noun

A palm-leaf hair ornament worn by some black S African men as a symbol of manhood

headˈroom noun

1. Uninterrupted space below a ceiling, bridge, etc
2. Space overhead, below an obstacle, etc

headˈrope noun

1. A rope for tying or leading an animal
2. Part of the bolt rope at the top of a rectangular sail

headˈsail noun

A sail on a foremast or bowsprit

headˈscarf noun (pl headˈscarves)

A scarf worn over the head, a headsquare

head sea noun (nautical)

A sea running directly against a ship's course

headˈset noun

A set of headphones, often with a microphone attached

headˈshake noun

A significant shake of the head

headˈsheets plural noun

The forepart of a small vessel or craft

headˈshot noun

A photograph or television picture of someone's head (and shoulders) only

headˈshrinker noun

1. A headhunter who shrinks the heads of his or her victims
2. A psychiatrist (informal)

headsˈman noun

An executioner who cuts off heads

headˈsquare noun

A square of fabric worn as a covering for the head

headˈstall noun

1. The part of a horse's bridle round the head
2. A choirstall with its back to the choirscreen (obsolete)

head start noun

A boost or advantage intended to overcome a disadvantage or give a better chance of success

headˈ-station noun

The dwelling-house, etc, on an Australian sheep or cattle station

headˈstick noun (printing)

Formerly a straight piece of furniture placed at the head of a forme, between the chase and the type

headˈstock noun (machinery)

A device for supporting the end or head of a member or part

headˈstone noun

1. The principal stone of a building
2. The main principle
3. Cornerstone
4. Gravestone

headˈ-stream noun

1. A headwater
2. A high tributary
3. The stream forming the highest or remotest source (of a river)

headˈstrong adjective

Obstinately self-willed

headsˈ-upˈ (N American) noun

A warning that something is going to happen

adjective

Displaying alertness

head teacher noun

A headmaster or headmistress

headˈ-tire noun (obsolete)

A headdress

head-to-headˈ adjective

Directly competing

noun

A direct meeting or confrontation between two opponents

head-up display noun

The presentation of data on the windscreen of an aircraft or car, etc enabling the pilot or driver to see the information without looking down at the instrument panel (abbrev HUD)

head voice noun

Tones in the head register

head waiter noun

The most senior waiter of a restaurant or hotel

head'wall noun (mountaineering)

A steep rockface at the end of a cirque

headˈwater noun

The highest part of a stream or river before receiving tributaries

headˈway noun

1. Motion ahead, esp of a ship
2. Progress
3. The time interval or distance between buses, trains, etc travelling on the same route in the same direction

headˈwind noun

A wind blowing directly against one's course

head-woˈman noun

A female leader or chief

headˈword noun

1. A word forming a heading eg of an entry in a dictionary or encyclopedia
2. A word under which other related words are grouped, as in a dictionary

headˈwork noun

Mental work

headˈworker noun

above one's head

Beyond one's capacity for understanding

against the head

(of the ball in a rugby scrum, or the scrum itself) won by the team not putting the ball in

bring or come to a head

To (cause to) reach a climax or crisis

do one's head in (informal)

To cause one to become confused, frustrated or angry

eat one's head off see under eat

get it into one's head

To conceive the (esp wrong or foolish) notion, to believe (with that)

get one's head together (informal)

To achieve a state of self-possession

give a horse its head

To let it go as it chooses

give head (vulgar slang)

To perform oral sex (on)

give someone his or her head

To increase someone's scope for initiative

go by the head (nautical)

To sink head foremost

go over someone's head

To take a problem, complaint, etc directly to a person more senior than someone

go to someone's head

1. To make someone vain or conceited
2. To make someone confused or dizzy
3. To make someone drunk

have a (good, etc) head on one's shoulders

To have ability and balance

have one's head screwed on (the right way)

To be sensible, bright, etc

head and shoulders

1. Very much, as if taller by a head and shoulders
2. Violently (archaic)

head first or head foremost

With the head in front

head off

1. To get ahead of so as to turn back
2. To deflect from a path or intention

head over heels

1. As in a somersault
2. Completely
3. Completely in love

heads or tails

An invitation to guess how a coin will fall

head to head

In direct competition (see also head-to-headˈ above)

hit the headlines

To get prominent attention in the press or other media

hold up one's head see under hold¹

keep (or lose) one's head

To keep (or lose) one's self-possession, calmness, control

keep one's head above water see under water

lay heads together

To confer and co-operate

off or out of one's head (informal)

1. Crazy
2. Very drunk or high on drugs

off the top of one's head see under top¹

on one's (own) head be it

One must, or will, accept responsibility for any unpleasant or undesirable consequences of one's actions

out of one's (own) head

1. Spontaneously
2. Of one's own invention
3. Crazy, mad (informal)
4. Very drunk or high on drugs (informal)

over head and ears

Deeply submerged or engrossed

over one's head

1. Beyond one's capacity for understanding
2. Beyond one's control

put heads together same as lay heads together (see above).

put one's head on the block (informal)

To stick one's neck out, run the risk of censure, etc

show one's head

To allow oneself to be seen

take it into one's head

1. To conceive the (esp wrong or foolish) notion, believe (with that)
2. To conceive the (esp misguided) intention of (with to)

turn someone's head see under turn