head /hed/ noun- The uppermost part of the human body, or the uppermost or foremost part of an animal's body, in which reside the brain, mouth and principal sense organs
- The brain
- The understanding
- Self-possession
- A chief or leader
- A headteacher, principal
- The place of honour or command
- The front, upper end or top of anything
- A rounded or enlarged end or top
- A capitulum
- A mass of leaves, flowers, hair, etc
- A headdress or dressing for the head (archaic)
- A headache (informal)
- The pegbox and scroll of a violin, etc
- The membrane of a drum
- The essential part of an apparatus
- In a bicycle, the tube in which the front-fork is socketed
- An individual animal or person as one of a group
- A title, heading
- A topic or chief point of a discourse
- A source
- Energy of a fluid owing to height, velocity and pressure
- Pressure
- Strength (archaic)
- Insurrectionary force (archaic)
- The highest point of anything
- Culmination
- A cape, headland
- A froth on liquor (esp beer) poured out
- A point where pus gathers on the surface of the skin
- Headway
- The length or height of an animal's or person's head
- A mine tunnel
- (in pl) the obverse of a coin
- A person who habitually uses drugs (slang; often in combination as in acid-head)
- A person who is preoccupied with a particular subject (slang; usu in combination)
- (often in pl) a ship's toilet (naut sl)
- An electromagnetic device in tape recorders, hard disks, etc for converting electrical signals into a recorded or stored form, or vice versa, or for erasing such material
- A round of curling, in which sixteen stones are played
adjective- Of or relating to the head
- For the head
- Chief, principal
- At or coming from the front
transitive verb- To remove the head or top from
- To behead (obsolete)
- To supply with a head, top or heading
- To be the head, or at the head of (also head up)
- To go round the head of
- To face
- To meet in the face
- To cause to face or front
- To strike with the head
- To be ahead of
intransitive verb- To form a head
- To face, front
- To direct one's course, make (for)
- (of streams, rivers, etc) to rise, originate
ORIGIN: OE hēafod; cf Du hoofd, Ger Haupt headˈage noun A subsidy payable to farmers, based on the number of animals kept headˈed adjective - (usu as combining form) having a head
- Come to a head (Shakespeare)
headˈer noun - A person or a machine that removes heads from or supplies heads for casks, etc
- A dive head foremost
- A brick or stone with the short side showing on the wall surface
- The act of heading a ball
- A heading for a chapter, article or page (printing; computing)
- A heading at the top of a microfiche, etc, readable with the naked eye
- An optional piece of code preceding data, giving details about the data (computing)
- A card attached to the top of a dumpbin giving information such as the name(s) and author(s) of the book(s) displayed
- (also header tank) a reservoir, etc that maintains an apparatus or system relying on pressure (eg plumbing) or gravity feed
headˈily adverb headˈiness noun headˈing noun - The action of the verb head in any sense
- A part forming a head
- A small passage to be enlarged into a tunnel
- Words placed at the head of a chapter, paragraph, etc
- Direction
- Bearing
headˈless adjective headˈlong adverb - With the head foremost or first
- Head over heels
- Without thought, rashly
- Precipitately, at full speed
adjective- Rash
- Precipitate, at full speed
- Precipitous
headˈmost adjective Most advanced or furthest forward headˈship noun The position or office of head or chief headˈy adjective - Affecting the brain
- Intoxicating
- Inflamed
- Rash
- Violent
- Exciting
headˈache noun - A pain in the head
- A source of worry (informal)
headˈachy adjective headˈband noun - A band (eg of ribbon, or elastic or rigid material) for wearing around the head
- A band round the top of trousers, etc
- A band of cloth attached to each end of the spine of a book to strengthen it, or for decoration
- 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) - A person who is crazy, foolish, fanatical, etc
- 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) - The head of a frank-pledge or tithing
- 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 - A (sometimes ceremonial) covering for the head
- 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 - Anything worn on the head
- 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) - To (attempt to) deprive a political opponent of power and influence (US)
- (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 - The practice of collecting human heads
- The practice of trying to undermine one's opponent's power (US)
- The seeking out of senior staff for one's organization
headlamp see headlight below. headˈland noun - A point of land running out into the sea
- A cape
- 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 - A line at the top of a page containing title, folio, etc (printing)
- The title of an article, esp a main article, in a newspaper, a caption
- A news item given very briefly (radio and TV)
- (in pl) the sails and ropes next to the yards
adjective (likely to be) published or broadcast as a headline transitive verb - To give as a headline, mention in a headline
- To add a headline to
- 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 - A poll tax
- A sum of money paid for each prisoner taken, or each slave delivered
- A reward for a proscribed outlaw's head
headˈnote noun - 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
- 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 - Head to head, esp (of a collision) with the front of one vehicle, etc hitting the front of another, or (rarely) a stationary object
- With head pointing directly forward
- 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 - A helmet
- A hat
- Head, skull (archaic; Spenser headˈpeace)
- A brain
- A man of intelligence
- A top part
- 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 - The quarters or residence of a commander-in-chief or general
- 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) - High register
- Of the voice in which nose and head cavities vibrate sympathetically
- (in male voice) falsetto
head rent noun Rent payable to the freeholder headˈrest noun - A support for the head
- (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 - Uninterrupted space below a ceiling, bridge, etc
- Space overhead, below an obstacle, etc
headˈrope noun - A rope for tying or leading an animal
- 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 - A headhunter who shrinks the heads of his or her victims
- 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 - The part of a horse's bridle round the head
- 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 - The principal stone of a building
- The main principle
- Cornerstone
- Gravestone
headˈ-stream noun - A headwater
- A high tributary
- 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 - Motion ahead, esp of a ship
- Progress
- 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 - A word forming a heading eg of an entry in a dictionary or encyclopedia
- 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 - To make someone vain or conceited
- To make someone confused or dizzy
- 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 - Very much, as if taller by a head and shoulders
- Violently (archaic)
head first or head foremost With the head in front head off - To get ahead of so as to turn back
- To deflect from a path or intention
head over heels - As in a somersault
- Completely
- 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) - Crazy
- 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 - Spontaneously
- Of one's own invention
- Crazy, mad (informal)
- Very drunk or high on drugs (informal)
over head and ears Deeply submerged or engrossed over one's head - Beyond one's capacity for understanding
- 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 - To conceive the (esp wrong or foolish) notion, believe (with that)
- To conceive the (esp misguided) intention of (with to)
turn someone's head see under turn lay1 /lā/ transitive verb (layˈing; laid)- To cause to lie
- To place or set down
- To beat down
- To spread on a surface
- To spread or set something on
- To cover
- To apply
- To cause to subside
- To exorcize
- To deposit
- To set on the table
- To make (a bet), wager
- To put forward
- To cause to be
- To set
- To produce and deposit
- To station
- To locate
- To put in (a particular) position
- To waylay
- To impose
- To attribute or impute
- To set material in position for making
- To form (a rope, etc) by setting in position and twisting
- To design or plan
- To layer (horticulture)
- To cause (a hedge) to grow more thickly by cutting some of the growth halfway through and pressing it diagonally towards the ground
- To have sexual intercourse with (slang)
- To put below the horizon by sailing away
- To give birth to a child (obsolete)
- To beset (Shakespeare)
intransitive verb- To produce eggs
- To wager or bet
- To deal blows
- To lie (archaic, nautical and non-standard)
noun- A situation, a place for lying
- An oyster-bed
- A way of lying
- A disposition, arrangement or plan
- A layer
- A mode of twisting
- Laying activity
- An act of sexual intercourse (slang)
- A partner, usu female, in sexual intercourse (slang)
- A bet (Shakespeare)
- A share of profit, esp in whaling
- A field or method of operation, esp in thieving (slang)
ORIGIN: OE lecgan to lay, causative of licgan to lie; cf ON leggja, Ger legen layer /lāˈər or lār/ noun - A course, bed or stratum
- Someone who or something which lays, eg a hen, a bricklayer, etc
- A distinctively coloured space between contour lines on a map
- A shoot bent down to earth in order to take root
transitive verb and intransitive verb To propagate by layers transitive verb- To put in layers
- To cut (hair) in layers
intransitive verb To be laid flat, lodge layˈered adjective In or with layers layˈering noun layˈing noun - The first coat of plaster
- The act or time of laying eggs
- The eggs laid
layˈabout noun A lazy, idle person, a loafer layˈaway noun - Goods on which a deposit has been paid, kept for a customer until payment is completed
- This system of purchasing goods
layˈback noun In rock climbing, a method of climbing a sharp-edged crack in a horizontal position (also intransitive verb) layˈ-by noun (pl layˈ-bys) - A widened area of a roadway to allow vehicles to draw up out of the stream of traffic
- (also layˈ-bye) a deposit against future purchase (S Afr)
- (also layˈ-bye) a system of reserving the right to purchase goods by making a deposit (S Afr)
layˈ-down noun - In card games, esp bridge, a hand which cannot fail to take the number of tricks required to win, and which therefore is sometimes exposed to view without any play taking place
- The contract made by the holder of such a hand
layer cake noun A cake built up in layers layˈ-off noun - A temporary suspension of work introduced by an employer as an economic measure
- The act of laying off or period of time during which someone lays off or is laid off
layˈout noun - Something which is laid out
- A display
- An outfit
- The disposition, arrangement, plan, esp of buildings or ground
- The general appearance of a printed page, also called format
- A set, unit or organization
layˈover noun (chiefly N American) A break in a journey layˈshaft noun An auxiliary geared shaft in a machine, esp the secondary shaft in a car's gearbox layˈstall noun (obsolete) A place for depositing dung, rubbish, etc layˈ-up noun - The time or condition of being laid up
- (in basketball) a shot taken from near the basket, esp one-handed and bouncing off the backboard
- (in golf) a shot deliberately played short of a hazard or green
lay aboard To run alongside, esp in order to board lay about one To deal blows vigorously or on all sides lay a course (nautical) To succeed in sailing to the place required without tacking lay aside or lay away - To discard
- To put on one side for future use (see also layaway above)
lay at To try to strike lay away - To lay eggs in out-of-the-way places (Scot, etc)
- To purchase goods by layaway (qv above)
lay bare To show clearly, disclose lay before To submit (eg plans) to lay by - To keep for future use
- To dismiss
- To put off
lay by the heels see under heel1 lay down - To give up
- To deposit, as a pledge
- To apply (eg embroidery; archaic)
- To formulate
- To assert (a law or rule)
- To store
- To plant
- To record
- To lay on (printing)
lay hands on see under hand lay heads together (archaic) To confer together lay hold of or on To seize lay in To get in a supply of lay into To beat thoroughly lay it on - To charge exorbitantly
- To do anything, eg to exaggerate or flatter, excessively
lay off - To mark off
- To dismiss temporarily from employment as an economic measure
- To cease (informal)
- To doff (archaic)
- To harangue volubly
- To hedge (gambling)
- To pass (the ball) to a teammate who is in a better position (football)
lay of the land (chiefly N American) same as lie of the land (see under lie2) lay on - To install a supply of
- To provide
- To deal blows with vigour
- To arrange made-up pages in the correct order on the imposing surface (also lay down; printing)
lay oneself open to To make oneself vulnerable to, or exposed to (criticism, etc) lay oneself out to (archaic) To make it one's professed object or practice, take great pains, to lay on hands see under hand lay on load (Spenser) To belabour lay on the table see under table lay open - To make bare, to show or expose
- To cut open
lay out - To display
- To spend (money)
- To plan
- To arrange according to a plan
- To prepare for burial
- To knock unconscious
- To take measures, seek
lay siege to - To besiege
- To importune
lay the table To put dishes, etc on the table in preparation for a meal lay to - To apply with vigour
- To bring a ship to rest
lay to heart see under heart lay under To subject to lay up - To store up, preserve
- (usu in passive) to confine to bed or one's room
- To put in dock for cleaning, repairs, etc or because no longer wanted for or fit for service
- To play a lay-up shot
lay upon To wager upon lay wait To lie in wait, or in ambush lay waste To devastate on a lay On shares instead of wages |