Adjacent Words

Head definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

HEAD, n. hed.
1. The uppermost part of the human body, or the foremost part of the body of prone and creeping animals. This part of the human body contains the organs of hearing, seeing, tasting and smelling; it contains also the brain, which is supposed to be the seat of the intellectual powers, and of sensation. Hence the head is the chief or more important part, and is used for the whole person, in the phrase, let the evil fall on my head.
2. An animal; an individual; as,the tax was raised by a certain rate per head. And we use the singular number to express many. The herd contains twenty head of oxen.
Thirty thousand head of swine.
3. A chief; a principal person; a leader; a commander; one who has the first rank or place,and to whom others are subordinate; as the head of an army; the head of a sect or party. Ephesians 5.
4. The first place; the place of honor, or of command. The lord mayor sat at the head of the table. The general marched at the head of his troops.
5. Countenance; presence; in the phrases, to hide the head, to show the head.
6. Understanding; faculties of the mind; sometimes in a ludicrous sense; as, a man has a good head, or a strong head. These men laid their heads together to form the scheme. Never trouble your head about this affair. So we say, to beat the head; to break the head; that is, to study hard, to exercise the understanding or mental faculties.
7. Face; front; forepart.
The ravishers turn head, the fight renews. [Unusual.]
8. Resistance; successful opposition; in the phrase, to make head against, that is, to advance, or resist with success.
9. Spontaneous will or resolution; in the phrases, of his own head, on their own head. But of is more usual than on.
10. State of a deer's horns by which his age is known. The buck is called, the fifth year, a buck of the first head.
11. The top of a thing, especially when larger than the rest of the thing; as the head of a spear; the head of a cabbage; the head of a nail; the head of a mast.
12. The forepart of a thing, as the head of a ship, which includes the bows on both sides; also,the ornamental figure or image erected on or before the stem of a ship.
13. The blade or cutting part of an ax, distinct from the helve.
14. That which rises on the top; as the head or yeast of beer.
15. The upper part of a bed, or bed-stead.
16. The brain.
They turn their heads to imitate the sun.
17. The dress of the head; as a laced head. [Unusual.]
18. The principal source of a stream; as the head of the Nile.
19. Altitude of water in ponds, as applicable to the driving of mill-wheels. The mill has a good head of water.
20. Topic of discourse; chief point or subject; a summary; as the heads of a discourse or treatise.
21. Crisis; pitch; highth. The disease has grown to such a head as to threaten life.
22. Influence; force; strength; pitch. The sedition got to such a head as not to be easily quelled.
23. Body; conflux.
24. Power; armed force.
My lord, my lord, the French have gathered head.
25. Liberty; freedom from restrain; as, to give a horse the head. Hence,
26. License; freedom from check, control or restraint.
Children should not have their heads.
He has too long given his unruly passions the head.
27. The hair of the head; as a head of hair.
28. The top of corn or other plant; the part on which the seed grows.
29. The end, or the boards that form the end; as the head of a cask.
30. The part most remote from the mouth or opening into the sea; as the head of a bay, gulf or creek.
31. The maturated part of an ulcer or boil; hence, to come to a head, is to suppurate.
Head and ears, a phrase denoting the whole person, especially when referring to immersion. He plunged head and ears into the water. He was head and ears in debt, that is, completely overwhelmed.
Head and shoulders, by force; violently; as, to drag one head and shoulders.
They bring in every figure of speech, head and shoulders.
Head or tail, or head nor tail, uncertain; not reducible to certainty.
Head, as an adj. or in composition, chief; principal; as a head workman.
By the head, in seamen's language, denotes the state of a ship laden too deeply at the fore-end.
HEAD, v.t. hed. To lead; to direct; to act as leader to; as, to head an army; to head an expedition; to head a riot.
1. To behead; to decapitate. [Unusual.]
2. To form a head to; to fit or furnish with a head; as, to head a nail.
3. To lop; as, to head trees.
4. To go in front of; to get into the front; as, to head a drove of cattle.
5. To set on the head; as, to head a cask.
6. To oppose; to veer round and blow in opposition to the course of a ship;as, the wind heads us.
HEAD, v.i. hed. To originate; to spring; to have its source, as a river.
A broad river that heads in the great Blue Ridge of mountains.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains; "he stuck his head out the window" [syn: head, caput]
2: a single domestic animal; "200 head of cattle"
3: that which is responsible for one's thoughts and feelings; the seat of the faculty of reason; "his mind wandered"; "I couldn't get his words out of my head" [syn: mind, head, brain, psyche, nous]
4: a person who is in charge; "the head of the whole operation" [syn: head, chief, top dog]
5: the front of a military formation or procession; "the head of the column advanced boldly"; "they were at the head of the attack" [ant: rear]
6: the pressure exerted by a fluid; "a head of steam"
7: the top of something; "the head of the stairs"; "the head of the page"; "the head of the list" [ant: foot]
8: the source of water from which a stream arises; "they tracked him back toward the head of the stream" [syn: fountainhead, headspring, head]
9: (grammar) the word in a grammatical constituent that plays the same grammatical role as the whole constituent [syn: head, head word]
10: the tip of an abscess (where the pus accumulates)
11: the length or height based on the size of a human or animal head; "he is two heads taller than his little sister"; "his horse won by a head"
12: a dense cluster of flowers or foliage; "a head of cauliflower"; "a head of lettuce" [syn: capitulum, head]
13: the educator who has executive authority for a school; "she sent unruly pupils to see the principal" [syn: principal, school principal, head teacher, head]
14: an individual person; "tickets are $5 per head"
15: a user of (usually soft) drugs; "the office was full of secret heads"
16: a natural elevation (especially a rocky one that juts out into the sea) [syn: promontory, headland, head, foreland]
17: a rounded compact mass; "the head of a comet"
18: the foam or froth that accumulates at the top when you pour an effervescent liquid into a container; "the beer had a large head of foam"
19: the part in the front or nearest the viewer; "he was in the forefront"; "he was at the head of the column" [syn: forefront, head]
20: a difficult juncture; "a pretty pass"; "matters came to a head yesterday" [syn: pass, head, straits]
21: forward movement; "the ship made little headway against the gale" [syn: headway, head]
22: a V-shaped mark at one end of an arrow pointer; "the point of the arrow was due north" [syn: point, head]
23: the subject matter at issue; "the question of disease merits serious discussion"; "under the head of minor Roman poets" [syn: question, head]
24: a line of text serving to indicate what the passage below it is about; "the heading seemed to have little to do with the text" [syn: heading, header, head]
25: the rounded end of a bone that fits into a rounded cavity in another bone to form a joint; "the head of the humerus"
26: that part of a skeletal muscle that is away from the bone that it moves
27: (computer science) a tiny electromagnetic coil and metal pole used to write and read magnetic patterns on a disk [syn: read/write head, head]
28: (usually plural) the obverse side of a coin that usually bears the representation of a person's head; "call heads or tails!" [ant: tail]
29: the striking part of a tool; "the head of the hammer"
30: (nautical) a toilet on board a boat or ship
31: a projection out from one end; "the head of the nail", "a pinhead is the head of a pin"
32: a membrane that is stretched taut over a drum [syn: drumhead, head]
33: oral stimulation of the genitals; "they say he gives good head" [syn: oral sex, head] v
1: to go or travel towards; "where is she heading"; "We were headed for the mountains"
2: be in charge of; "Who is heading this project?" [syn: head, lead]
3: travel in front of; go in advance of others; "The procession was headed by John" [syn: lead, head]
4: be the first or leading member of (a group) and excel; "This student heads the class" [syn: head, head up]
5: direct the course; determine the direction of travelling [syn: steer, maneuver, manoeuver, manoeuvre, direct, point, head, guide, channelize, channelise]
6: take its rise; "These rivers head from a mountain range in the Himalayas"
7: be in the front of or on top of; "The list was headed by the name of the president"
8: form a head or come or grow to a head; "The wheat headed early this year"
9: remove the head of; "head the fish"

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English hed, from Old English h?afod; akin to Old High German houbit head, Latin caput Date: before 12th century 1. the upper or anterior division of the animal body that contains the brain, the chief sense organs, and the mouth 2. a. the seat of the intellect ; mind <two heads are better than one> b. a person with respect to mental qualities <let wiser heads prevail> c. natural aptitude or talent <a good head for figures> d. mental or emotional control ; poise <a level head> e. headache 3. the obverse of a coin — usually used in plural <heads, I win> 4. a. person, individual <count heads> b. plural head one of a number (as of domestic animals) 5. a. the end that is upper or higher or opposite the foot <the head of the table> <head of a sail> b. the source of a stream c. either end of something (as a drum) whose two ends need not be distinguished 6. director, leader: as a. headmaster b. one in charge of a division or department in an office or institution <the head of the English department> 7. a. capitulum 2 b. the foliaged part of a plant especially when consisting of a compact mass of leaves or close fructification <a head of lettuce> 8. a. the leading element of a military column or a procession b. headway 9. a. the uppermost extremity or projecting part of an object ; top b. the striking part of a weapon, tool, or implement c. the rounded proximal end of a long bone (as the humerus) d. the end of a muscle nearest the origin e. the oval part of a printed musical note 10. a. a body of water kept in reserve at a height; also the containing bank, dam, or wall b. a mass of water in motion 11. a. the difference in elevation between two points in a body of fluid b. the resulting pressure of the fluid at the lower point expressible as this height; broadly pressure of a fluid 12. a. the bow and adjacent parts of a ship b. a ship's toilet; broadly toilet 3 13. the approximate length of the head of a horse <won by a head> 14. the place of leadership, honor, or command <at the head of her class> 15. a. (1) a word or series of words often in larger letters placed at the beginning of a passage or at the top of a page in order to introduce or categorize (2) a separate part or topic b. a portion of a page or sheet that is above the first line of printing 16. the foam or scum that rises on a fermenting or effervescing liquid (as beer) 17. a. the part of a boil, pimple, or abscess at which it is likely to break b. culminating point of action ; crisis <events came to a head> 18. a. a part or attachment of a machine or machine tool containing a device (as a cutter or drill); also the part of an apparatus that performs the chief function or a particular function b. an electromagnet used as a transducer in magnetic recording for recording on, reading, or erasing a magnetic medium (as tape or a disk) 19. an immediate constituent of a construction that can have the same grammatical function as the whole (as man in “an old man”, “a very old man”, or “the man in the street”) 20. a. one who uses a drug — often used in combination <pothead> b. a devoted enthusiast ; aficionado — often used in combination <computerhead> 21. often vulgar fellatio, cunnilingus — usually used with give II. adjective Date: before 12th century 1. of, relating to, or intended for the head 2. principal, chief <head cook> 3. situated at the head 4. coming from in front <head sea> III. verb Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. behead 2. a. to put a head on ; fit a head to <head an arrow> b. to form the head or top of <tower headed by a spire> 3. to act as leader or head to <head a revolt> 4. a. to get in front of so as to hinder, stop, or turn back b. to take a lead over (as a racehorse) ; surpass c. to pass (a stream) by going round above the source 5. a. to put something at the head of (as a list) b. to stand as the first or leading member of <heads the list of heroes> 6. to set the course of <head a ship northward> 7. to drive (as a soccer ball) with the head intransitive verb 1. to form a head <this cabbage heads early> 2. to point or proceed in a certain direction <the fleet was heading out> 3. to have a source ; originate

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n., adj., & v. --n. 1 the upper part of the human body, or the foremost or upper part of an animal's body, containing the brain, mouth, and sense-organs. 2 a the head regarded as the seat of intellect or repository of comprehended information. b intelligence; imagination (use your head). c mental aptitude or tolerance (usu. foll. by for: a good head for business; no head for heights). 3 colloq. a headache, esp. resulting from a blow or from intoxication. 4 a thing like a head in form or position, esp.: a the operative part of a tool. b the flattened top of a nail. c the ornamented top of a pillar. d a mass of leaves or flowers at the top of a stem. e the flat end of a drum. f the foam on top of a glass of beer etc. g the upper horizontal part of a window frame, door frame, etc. 5 life when regarded as vulnerable (it cost him his head). 6 a a person in charge; a director or leader (esp. the principal teacher at a school or college). b a position of leadership or command. 7 the front or forward part of something, e.g. a queue. 8 the upper end of something, e.g. a table or bed. 9 the top or highest part of something, e.g. a page, stairs, etc. 10 a person or individual regarded as a numerical unit (£10 per head). 11 (pl. same) a an individual animal as a unit. b (as pl.) a number of cattle or game as specified (20 head). 12 a the side of a coin bearing the image of a head. b (usu. in pl.) this side as a choice when tossing a coin. 13 a the source of a river or stream etc. b the end of a lake at which a river enters it. 14 the height or length of a head as a measure. 15 the component of a machine that is in contact with or very close to what is being processed or worked on, esp.: a the component on a tape recorder that touches the moving tape in play and converts the signals. b the part of a record-player that holds the playing cartridge and stylus. c = PRINTHEAD. 16 a a confined body of water or steam in an engine etc. b the pressure exerted by this. 17 a promontory (esp. in place-names) (Beachy Head). 18 Naut. a the bows of a ship. b (often in pl.) a ship's latrine. 19 a main topic or category for consideration or discussion. 20 Journalism = HEADLINE n. 21 a culmination, climax, or crisis. 22 the fully developed top of a boil etc. 23 sl. a habitual taker of drugs; a drug addict. --attrib.adj. chief or principal (head gardener; head office). --v. 1 tr. be at the head or front of. 2 tr. be in charge of (headed a small team). 3 tr. a provide with a head or heading. b (of an inscription, title, etc.) be at the top of, serve as a heading for. 4 a intr. face or move in a specified direction or towards a specified result (often foll. by for: is heading for trouble). b tr. direct in a specified direction. 5 tr. Football strike (the ball) with the head. 6 a tr. (often foll. by down) cut the head off (a plant etc.). b intr. (of a plant etc.) form a head. Phrases and idioms: above (or over) one's head beyond one's ability to understand. come to a head reach a crisis. enter (or come into) one's head colloq. occur to one. from head to toe (or foot) all over a person's body. get one's head down sl. 1 go to bed. 2 concentrate on the task in hand. give a person his or her head allow a person to act freely. go out of one's head go mad. go to one's head 1 (of liquor) make one dizzy or slightly drunk. 2 (of success) make one conceited. head and shoulders colloq. by a considerable amount. head back 1 get ahead of so as to intercept and turn back. 2 return home etc. head-banger sl. 1 a young person shaking violently to the rhythm of pop music. 2 a crazy or eccentric person. head-butt n. a forceful thrust with the top of the head into the chin or body of another person. --v.tr. attack (another person) with a head-butt. head-dress an ornamental covering or band for the head. head first 1 with the head foremost. 2 precipitately. head in the sand refusal to acknowledge an obvious danger or difficulty. head off 1 get ahead of so as to intercept and turn aside. 2 forestall. a head of hair the hair on a person's head, esp. as a distinctive feature. head-on 1 with the front foremost (a head-on crash). 2 in direct confrontation. head over heels 1 turning over completely in forward motion as in a somersault etc. 2 topsy-turvy. 3 utterly, completely (head over heels in love). head-shrinker sl. a psychiatrist. head start an advantage granted or gained at an early stage. heads will roll colloq. people will be disgraced or dismissed. head-up (of instrument readings in an aircraft, vehicle, etc.) shown so as to be visible without lowering the eyes. head-voice the high register of the voice in speaking or singing. head wind a wind blowing from directly in front. hold up one's head be confident or unashamed. in one's head 1 in one's thoughts or imagination. 2 by mental process without use of physical aids. keep one's head remain calm. keep one's head above water colloq. 1 keep out of debt. 2 avoid succumbing to difficulties. keep one's head down colloq. remain inconspicuous in difficult or dangerous times. lose one's head lose self-control; panic. make head or tail of (usu. with neg. or interrog.) understand at all. off one's head sl. crazy. off the top of one's head colloq. impromptu; without careful thought or investigation. on one's (or one's own) head as one's sole responsibility. out of one's head 1 sl. crazy. 2 from one's imagination or memory. over one's head 1 beyond one's ability to understand. 2 without one's knowledge or involvement, esp. when one has a right to this. 3 with disregard for one's own (stronger) claim (was promoted over their heads). put heads together consult together. put into a person's head suggest to a person. take (or get) it into one's head (foll. by that + clause or to + infin.) form a definite idea or plan. turn a person's head make a person conceited. with one's head in the clouds see CLOUD. Derivatives: headed adj. (also in comb.). headless adj. headward adj. & adv. Etymology: OE heafod f. Gmc

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Feed Feed, n. 1. That which is eaten; esp., food for beasts; fodder; pasture; hay; grain, ground or whole; as, the best feed for sheep. 2. A grazing or pasture ground. --Shak. 3. An allowance of provender given to a horse, cow, etc.; a meal; as, a feed of corn or oats. 4. A meal, or the act of eating. [R.] For such pleasure till that hour At feed or fountain never had I found. --Milton. 5. The water supplied to steam boilers. 6. (Mach.) (a) The motion, or act, of carrying forward the stuff to be operated upon, as cloth to the needle in a sewing machine; or of producing progressive operation upon any material or object in a machine, as, in a turning lathe, by moving the cutting tool along or in the work. (b) The supply of material to a machine, as water to a steam boiler, coal to a furnace, or grain to a run of stones. (c) The mechanism by which the action of feeding is produced; a feed motion. Feed bag, a nose bag containing feed for a horse or mule. Feed cloth, an apron for leading cotton, wool, or other fiber, into a machine, as for carding, etc. Feed door, a door to a furnace, by which to supply coal. Feed head. (a) A cistern for feeding water by gravity to a steam boiler. (b) (Founding) An excess of metal above a mold, which serves to render the casting more compact by its pressure; -- also called a riser, deadhead, or simply feed or head --Knight. Feed heater. (a) (Steam Engine) A vessel in which the feed water for the boiler is heated, usually by exhaust steam. (b) A boiler or kettle in which is heated food for stock. Feed motion, or Feed gear (Mach.), the train of mechanism that gives motion to the part that directly produces the feed in a machine. Feed pipe, a pipe for supplying the boiler of a steam engine, etc., with water. Feed pump, a force pump for supplying water to a steam boiler, etc. Feed regulator, a device for graduating the operation of a feeder. --Knight. Feed screw, in lathes, a long screw employed to impart a regular motion to a tool rest or tool, or to the work. Feed water, water supplied to a steam boiler, etc. Feed wheel (Mach.), a kind of feeder. See Feeder, n., 8.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Head Head, n. [OE. hed, heved, heaved, AS. he['a]fod; akin to D. hoofd, OHG. houbit, G. haupt, Icel. h["o]fu?, Sw. hufvud, Dan. hoved, Goth. haubip. The word does not corresponds regularly to L. caput head (cf. E. Chief, Cadet, Capital), and its origin is unknown.] 1. The anterior or superior part of an animal, containing the brain, or chief ganglia of the nervous system, the mouth, and in the higher animals, the chief sensory organs; poll; cephalon. 2. The uppermost, foremost, or most important part of an inanimate object; such a part as may be considered to resemble the head of an animal; often, also, the larger, thicker, or heavier part or extremity, in distinction from the smaller or thinner part, or from the point or edge; as, the head of a cane, a nail, a spear, an ax, a mast, a sail, a ship; that which covers and closes the top or the end of a hollow vessel; as, the head of a cask or a steam boiler. 3. The place where the head should go; as, the head of a bed, of a grave, etc.; the head of a carriage, that is, the hood which covers the head. 4. The most prominent or important member of any organized body; the chief; the leader; as, the head of a college, a school, a church, a state, and the like. ``Their princes and heads.'' --Robynson (More's Utopia). The heads of the chief sects of philosophy. --Tillotson. Your head I him appoint. --Milton. 5. The place or honor, or of command; the most important or foremost position; the front; as, the head of the table; the head of a column of soldiers. An army of fourscore thousand troops, with the duke Marlborough at the head of them. --Addison. 6. Each one among many; an individual; -- often used in a plural sense; as, a thousand head of cattle. It there be six millions of people, there are about four acres for every head. --Graunt. 7. The seat of the intellect; the brain; the understanding; the mental faculties; as, a good head, that is, a good mind; it never entered his head, it did not occur to him; of his own head, of his own thought or will. Men who had lost both head and heart. --Macaulay. 8. The source, fountain, spring, or beginning, as of a stream or river; as, the head of the Nile; hence, the altitude of the source, or the height of the surface, as of water, above a given place, as above an orifice at which it issues, and the pressure resulting from the height or from motion; sometimes also, the quantity in reserve; as, a mill or reservoir has a good head of water, or ten feet head; also, that part of a gulf or bay most remote from the outlet or the sea. 9. A headland; a promontory; as, Gay Head. --Shak. 10. A separate part, or topic, of a discourse; a theme to be expanded; a subdivision; as, the heads of a sermon. 11. Culminating point or crisis; hence, strength; force; height. Ere foul sin, gathering head, shall break into corruption. --Shak. The indisposition which has long hung upon me, is at last grown to such a head, that it must quickly make an end of me or of itself. --Addison. 12. Power; armed force. My lord, my lord, the French have gathered head. --Shak. 13. A headdress; a covering of the head; as, a laced head; a head of hair. --Swift. 14. An ear of wheat, barley, or of one of the other small cereals. 15. (Bot.) (a) A dense cluster of flowers, as in clover, daisies, thistles; a capitulum. (b) A dense, compact mass of leaves, as in a cabbage or a lettuce plant. 16. The antlers of a deer. 17. A rounded mass of foam which rises on a pot of beer or other effervescing liquor. --Mortimer. 18. pl. Tiles laid at the eaves of a house. --Knight. Note: Head is often used adjectively or in self-explaining combinations; as, head gear or headgear, head rest. Cf. Head, a. A buck of the first head, a male fallow deer in its fifth year, when it attains its complete set of antlers. --Shak. By the head. (Naut.) See under By. Elevator head, Feed head, etc. See under Elevator, Feed, etc. From head to foot, through the whole length of a man; completely; throughout. ``Arm me, audacity, from head to foot.'' --Shak. Head and ears, with the whole person; deeply; completely; as, he was head and ears in debt or in trouble. [Colloq.] Head fast. (Naut.) See 5th Fast. Head kidney (Anat.), the most anterior of the three pairs of embryonic renal organs developed in most vertebrates; the pronephros. Head money, a capitation tax; a poll tax. --Milton. Head pence, a poll tax. [Obs.] Head sea, a sea that meets the head of a vessel or rolls against her course. Head and shoulders. (a) By force; violently; as, to drag one, head and shoulders. ``They bring in every figure of speech, head and shoulders.'' --Felton. (b) By the height of the head and shoulders; hence, by a great degree or space; by far; much; as, he is head and shoulders above them. Head or tail, this side or that side; this thing or that; -- a phrase used in throwing a coin to decide a choice, guestion, or stake, head being the side of the coin bearing the effigy or principal figure (or, in case there is no head or face on either side, that side which has the date on it), and tail the other side. Neither head nor tail, neither beginning nor end; neither this thing nor that; nothing distinct or definite; -- a phrase used in speaking of what is indefinite or confused; as, they made neither head nor tail of the matter. [Colloq.] Head wind, a wind that blows in a direction opposite the vessel's course. Out one's own head, according to one's own idea; without advice or co["o]peration of another. Over the head of, beyond the comprehension of. --M. Arnold.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Head Head, a. Principal; chief; leading; first; as, the head master of a school; the head man of a tribe; a head chorister; a head cook.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Head Head, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Headed; p. pr. & vb. n. Heading.] 1. To be at the head of; to put one's self at the head of; to lead; to direct; to act as leader to; as, to head an army, an expedition, or a riot. --Dryden. 2. To form a head to; to fit or furnish with a head; as, to head a nail. --Spenser. 3. To behead; to decapitate. [Obs.] --Shak. 4. To cut off the top of; to lop off; as, to head trees. 5. To go in front of; to get in the front of, so as to hinder or stop; to oppose; hence, to check or restrain; as, to head a drove of cattle; to head a person; the wind heads a ship. 6. To set on the head; as, to head a cask. To head off, to intercept; to get before; as, an officer heads off a thief who is escaping. To head up, to close, as a cask or barrel, by fitting a head to.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Head Head, v. i. 1. To originate; to spring; to have its source, as a river. A broad river, that heads in the great Blue Ridge. --Adair. 2. To go or point in a certain direction; to tend; as, how does the ship head? 3. To form a head; as, this kind of cabbage heads early.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(heads, heading, headed) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. Note: 'Head' is used in a large number of expressions which are explained under other words in the dictionary. For example, the expression 'off the top of your head' is explained at 'top'. 1. Your head is the top part of your body, which has your eyes, mouth, and brain in it. She turned her head away from him... N-COUNT 2. You can use head to refer to your mind and your mental abilities. ...an exceptional analyst who could do complex maths in his head. N-COUNT 3. The head of a line of people or vehicles is the front of it, or the first person or vehicle in the line. ...the head of the queue... N-SING: with supp 4. If someone or something heads a line or procession, they are at the front of it. The parson, heading the procession, had just turned right towards the churchyard. VERB: V n 5. If something heads a list or group, it is at the top of it. Running a business heads the list of ambitions among the 1,000 people interviewed by Good Housekeeping magazine. VERB: V n 6. The head of something is the highest or top part of it. ...the head of the stairs... Every day a different name was placed at the head of the chart. = top N-SING: usu N of n 7. The head of something long and thin is the end which is wider than or a different shape from the rest, and which is often considered to be the most important part. Keep the head of the club the same height throughout the swing. N-COUNT: usu with supp 8. The head of a school is the teacher who is in charge. (mainly BRIT) = head teacher N-COUNT 9. The head of a company or organization is the person in charge of it and in charge of the people in it. Heads of government from more than 100 countries gather in Geneva tomorrow. ...the head waiter. N-COUNT: with supp 10. If you head a department, company, or organization, you are the person in charge of it. ...Michael Williams, who heads the department's Office of Civil Rights. ...the ruling Socialist Party, headed by Dr Franz Vranitzky. VERB: V n, V-ed 11. The head on a glass of beer is the layer of small bubbles that form on the top of the beer. N-COUNT: usu sing 12. If you have a bad head, you have a headache. (BRIT INFORMAL) I had a terrible head and was extraordinarily drunk. N-COUNT: usu sing, with supp 13. If you toss a coin and it comes down heads, you can see the side of the coin which has a picture of a head on it. 'We might toss up for it,' suggested Ted. 'If it's heads, then we'll talk.'... Heads or tails? ADV: be ADV, ADV after v 14. If you are heading for a particular place, you are going towards that place. In American English, you can also say that you are headed for a particular place. He headed for the bus stop... It is not clear how many of them will be heading back to Saudi Arabia tomorrow... She and her child boarded a plane headed to where her family lived... VERB: V for n, V adv/prep, V-ed 15. If something or someone is heading for a particular result, the situation they are in is developing in a way that makes that result very likely. In American English, you can also say that something or someone is headed for a particular result. The latest talks aimed at ending the civil war appear to be heading for deadlock... The centuries-old ritual seems headed for extinction. VERB: V for/towards n, V-ed 16. If a piece of writing is headed a particular title, it has that title written at the beginning of it. One chapter is headed, 'Beating the Test'. VERB: usu passive, be V-ed quote 17. If you head a ball in football, you hit it with your head in order to make it go in a particular direction. He headed the ball across the face of the goal. VERB: V n prep/adv 18. see also heading 19. You use a head or per head after stating a cost or amount in order to indicate that that cost or amount is for each person in a particular group. This simple chicken dish costs less than £1 a head... PHRASE: amount PHR 20. From head to foot means all over your body. Colin had been put into a bath and been scrubbed from head to foot. PHRASE: oft be V-ed PHR [emphasis] 21. If you a have a head for something, you can deal with it easily. For example, if you have a head for figures, you can do arithmetic easily, and if you have a head for heights, you can climb to a great height without feeling afraid. I don't have a head for business. PHRASE: have/with PHR, PHR n 22. If you get a fact or idea into your head, you suddenly realize or think that it is true and you usually do not change your opinion about it. Once they get an idea into their heads, they never give up. PHRASE: V and N inflect 23. If you say that someone has got something into their head, you mean that they have finally understood or accepted it, and you are usually criticizing them because it has taken them a long time to do this. Managers have at last got it into their heads that they can no longer accept inefficient operations. PHRASE: V and N inflect 24. If alcoholic drink goes to your head, it makes you feel drunk. That wine was strong, it went to your head. PHRASE: V and N inflect 25. If you say that something such as praise or success goes to someone's head, you are criticizing them because you think that it makes them too proud or confident. Ford is definitely not a man to let a little success go to his head. PHRASE: V and N inflect [disapproval] 26. If you are head over heels or head over heels in love, you are very much in love. PHRASE: v PHR, v-link PHR 27. If you keep your head, you remain calm in a difficult situation. If you lose your head, you panic or do not remain calm in a difficult situation. She was able to keep her head and not panic... She lost her head and started screaming at me. PHRASE: V and N inflect 28. If you knock something on the head, you stop it. (BRIT INFORMAL) When we stop enjoying ourselves we'll knock it on the head. PHRASE: V inflects 29. Phrases such as laugh your head off and scream your head off can be used to emphasize that someone is laughing or screaming a lot or very loudly. He carried on telling a joke, laughing his head off. PHRASE: N inflects [emphasis] 30. If you say that someone is off their head, you think that their ideas or behaviour are very strange, foolish, or dangerous. (mainly BRIT INFORMAL) He's gone completely off his head. PHRASE: N inflects, usu v-link PHR [disapproval] 31. If you stand an idea or argument on its head or turn it on its head, you think about it or treat it in a completely new and different way. Their relationship turned the standard notion of marriage on its head. PHRASE: V inflects 32. If something such as an idea, joke, or comment goes over someone's head, it is too difficult for them to understand. I admit that a lot of the ideas went way over my head. PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v 33. If someone does something over another person's head, they do it without asking them or discussing it with them, especially when they should do so because the other person is in a position of authority. He was reprimanded for trying to go over the heads of senior officers. PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v 34. If you say that something unpleasant or embarrassing rears its ugly head or raises its ugly head, you mean that it occurs, often after not occurring for some time. There was a problem which reared its ugly head about a week after she moved back in... PHRASE: V inflects 35. If you stand on your head, you balance upside down with the top of your head and your hands on the ground. PHRASE: V and N inflect 36. If you say that you cannot make head nor tail of something or you cannot make head or tail of it, you are emphasizing that you cannot understand it at all. (INFORMAL) I couldn't make head nor tail of the damn film. PHRASE: usu with brd-neg, V inflects, PHR n 37. If somebody takes it into their head to do something, especially something strange or foolish, they suddenly decide to do it. He suddenly took it into his head to go out to Australia to stay with his son. PHRASE: V and N inflect, usu PHR to-inf 38. If a problem or disagreement comes to a head or is brought to a head, it becomes so bad that something must be done about it. These problems came to a head in September when five of the station's journalists were sacked. PHRASE: V inflects 39. If two or more people put their heads together, they talk about a problem they have and try to solve it. So everyone put their heads together and eventually an amicable arrangement was reached. PHRASE: V inflects 40. If you keep your head above water, you just avoid getting into difficulties; used especially to talk about business. We are keeping our head above water, but our cash flow position is not too good. PHRASE: V inflects 41. If you say that heads will roll as a result of something bad that has happened, you mean that people will be punished for it, especially by losing their jobs. The group's problems have led to speculation that heads will roll. PHRASE: V inflects

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hed (ro'-sh, Aramaic re'sh, and in special sense gulgoleth, literally, "skull," "cut-off head" (1Ch 10:10), whence Golgotha (Mt 27:33; Mr 15:22; Joh 19:17); mera'ashah, literally, "head-rest," "pillow," "bolster" (1Ki 19:6); qodhqodh, literally, crown of the head (De 28:35; 33:16,20; 2Sa 14:25; Isa 3:17; Jer 48:45); barzel, "the head of an axe" (De 19:5, the Revised Version margin "iron"; 2Ki 6:5); lehabhah, lahebheth, "the head of a spear" (1Sa 17:7); kephale): The first-mentioned Hebrew word and its Aramaic form are found frequently in their literal as well as metaphorical sense. We may distinguish the following meanings:

1. Used of Men:

By a slight extension of meaning, "head" occasionally stands for the person itself. This is the case in all passages where evil is said to return or to be requited upon the head of a person (see below).

2. Used of Animals:

The word is also used in connection with the serpent's head (Ge 3:15), the head of the sacrificial ram, bullock and goat (Ex 29:10,15,19; Le 4:4,24), the head of leviathan (Job 41:7, Hebrew 40:31).

3. The Head-Piece:

It is used also as representing the top or summit of a thing, as the capital of column or pillar (Ex 36:38; 38:28; 2Ch 3:15); of mountains (Ex 19:20; Nu 21:20; Jud 9:7; Am 1:2; 9:3); of a scepter (Es 5:2); of a ladder (Ge 28:12); of a tower (Ge 11:4).

4. Beginning, Source, Origin:

As a fourth meaning the word occurs (Pr 8:23; Ec 3:11; Isa 41:4) in the sense of beginning of months (Ex 12:2), of rivers (Ge 2:10), of streets or roads (Isa 51:20; Eze 16:25; 21:21).

As a leader, prince, chief, chieftain, captain (or as an adjective, with the meaning of foremost, uppermost), originally: "he that stands at the head"; compare "God is with us at our head" (2Ch 13:12); "Knowest thou that Yahweh will take away thy master from thy head?" (2Ki 2:3); "head-stone" the Revised Version (British and American) "top stone," i.e. the upper-most stone (Zec 4:7).

5. Leader, Prince:

Israel is called the head of nations (De 28:13); "The head (capital) of Syria is Damascus, and the head (prince) of Damascus is Rezin" (Isa 7:8); "heads of their fathers' houses," i.e. elders of the clans (Ex 6:14); compare "heads of tribes" (De 1:15), also "captain," literally, head (Nu 14:4; De 1:15; 1Ch 11:42; Ne 9:17). The phrase "head and tail" (Isa 9:14; 19:15) is explained by the rabbis as meaning the nobles and the commons among the people; compare "palm-branch and rush" (Isa 9:14), "hair of the feet .... and beard" (Isa 7:20), but compare also Isa 9:15. In the New Testament we find the remarkable statement of Christ being "the head of the church" (Eph 1:22; 5:23), "head of every man" (1Co 11:3), "head of all principality and power" (Col 2:10), "head of the body, the church" (Col 1:18; compare Eph 4:15). The context of 1Co 11:3 is very instructive to a true understanding of this expression: "I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God" (compare Eph 5:23). Here, clearly, reference is had to the lordship of Christ over His church, not to the oneness of Christ and His church, while in Eph 4:16 the dependence of the church upon Christ is spoken of. These passages should not therefore be pressed to include the idea of Christ being the intellectual center, the brain of His people, from whence the members are passively governed, for to the Jewish mind the heart was the seat of the intellect, not the head.

See HEART.

6. Various Uses:

As the head is the most essential part of physical man, calamity and blessing are said to come upon the head of a person (Ge 49:26; De 33:16; Jud 9:57; 1Sa 25:39; 2Ch 6:23; Eze 9:10; 11:21; 16:43; 22:31). For this reason hands are placed upon the head of a person on which blessings are being invoked (Ge 48:14,17,18; Mt 19:15) and upon the sacrificial animal upon which sins are laid (Ex 29:15; Le 1:4; 4:29,33). Responsibility for a deed is also said to rest on the head of the doer (2Sa 1:16; 3:29; 1Ki 8:32; Ps 7:16; Ac 18:6). The Bible teaches us to return good for evil (Mt 5:44), or in the very idiomatic Hebrew style, to "heap coals of fire upon (the) head" of the adversary (Pr 25:22; Ro 12:20). This phrase is dark as to its origin, but quite clear as to its meaning and application (compare Ro 12:17,19,21). The Jew was inclined to swear by his head (Mt 5:36), as the modern Oriental swears by his beard. The head is said to be under a vow (Nu 6:18,19; Ac 18:18; 21:23), because the Nazirite vow could readily be recognized by the head.

There are numerous idiomatic expressions connected with the head, of which we enumerate the following: "the hoary head" designates old age (see HAIR); "to round the corners of the head," etc. (Le 19:27; compare also De 14:1; Am 8:10), probably refers to the shaving of the side locks or the whole scalp among heathen nations, which was often done in idolatrous shrines or in token of initiation into the service of an idol. It was therefore forbidden to Israel, and its rigid observance gave rise to the peculiar Jewish custom of wearing long side locks (see HAIR). "Anointing the head" (Ps 23:5; 92:10; Heb 1:9) was a sign of joy and hospitality, while the "covering of the head" (2Sa 15:30; Es 6:12; Jer 14:3), "putting the hand upon the head" (2Sa 13:19) and putting earth, dust or ashes upon it (Jos 7:6; 1Sa 4:12; 2Sa 12; 13:19; La 2:10; compare Am 2:7) were expressive of sadness, grief, deep shame and mourning. In Es 7:8 Haman's face is covered as a condemned criminal, or as one who has been utterly put to shame, and who has nothing more to say for his life.

In this connection the Pauline injunction as to the veiling of women in the public gatherings of the Christians (1Co 11:5), while men were instructed to appear bareheaded, must be mentioned. This is diametrically opposed to the Jewish custom, according to which men wore the head covered by the Tallith or prayer shawl, while women were considered sufficiently covered by their long hair (1Co 11:15). The apostle here simply commends a Greek custom for the congregation residing among Greek populations; in other words, he recommends obedience to local standards of decency and good order.

"To bruise the head" (Ge 3:15) means to injure gravely; "to smite through the head" (Ps 68:21) is synonymous with complete destruction. "To shake or wag the head" (Ps 22:7; 44:14; 64:8; Jer 18:16; 48:27; La 2:15; Mt 27:39; Mr 15:29) conveys the meaning of open derision and contempt. "To bow down the head" (Isa 58:5) indicates humility, sadness and mourning, but it may also be a mere pretense for piety. (Sirach 19:26).

H. L. E. Luering

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Seat of the brain, head-piece, noddle (in humorous ridicule). 2. Top, summit, upper part, acme. 3. Fore part, front part, front. 4. Commencement, beginning, rise, source, origin. 5. Chief part, principal part. 6. Person, individual. 7. Chief, chieftain, leader, principal, commander, master, director, superintendent, coryphaeus. 8. First place, place of honor. 9. Understanding, intellect, mind, thought. 10. Topic, subject. 11. Class, division, section, department, category. 12. Height (of water applicable to the driving of a water-wheel). 13. (Arch.) Capital. II. a. 1. Chief, principal, highest, first, leading, main, grand. 2. (Naut.) Adverse (said of the wind), contrary. III. v. a. 1. Lead, direct, command, govern, rule. 2. Put a head on, fit with a head. 3. Get in front of (in order to stop), intercept, head off. IV. v. n. 1. Form a head (said of a plant). 2. Tend, be pointed, be directed, aim, be aimed.

Moby Thesaurus

A per se, Adamite, Big Brother, LSD user, MD, Vernunft, WC, abbreviation, abbreviature, abrege, abridgment, abstract, ace, acidhead, acknowledgments, acmatic, addict, address, administer, administrate, administrator, agua, aim, alcoholic, ament, antecede, anterior, anteriority, apex, apical, aptitude, aptness, aqua, arch, argument, ascendant, at the head, auditor, avert, back, back matter, backhouse, banner, banner head, basement, basis, bastard title, bathroom, be in front, be master, be responsible for, be the bellwether, be the front-runner, beacon, beak, bean, bear, bear for, bear up for, bear up to, bearing, beginning, being, belfry, bend to, bent, bias, bibliography, big cheese, bill, block, blood, boatswain, body, bold front, boltrope, boost, boss, bracket, bracket capital, brain, brainpan, brains, branch, brave face, brave front, break for, break ground, break the ice, breakers, breakwater, brief, brow, bump, bunt, burden, butt, call the signals, can, canvas, cap, cape, capital, capitulum, capsheaf, capsule, captain, caption, caput, cardinal, carry on, case, cast, caste, cat, catch line, catchword, category, catkin, chain smoker, chair, chairman, champion, chap, chapter, character, chersonese, chief, chief executive officer, chieftain, chump, clan, class, clew, climax, closet, cloth, cocaine sniffer, cock, coconut, cokie, collar, colophon, come before, come first, comfort station, command, commander, commanding, commencement, compend, completely, comptroller, conception, concern, conclusion, condensation, condensed version, conduce, conduct, cone, conk, consciousness, conspectus, consummate, contents, contents page, contribute, control, controller, controlling, convenience, copyright page, coral reef, cornice, corymb, cranium, crapper, create, creature, crescendo, crest, cringle, crisis, critical point, crop, crowd of sail, crown, crumpet, cubehead, culminate, culmination, customer, cut off, cyme, dash for, dean, decapitate, decollate, dedication, deeply, delta, derivation, descend, dig, digest, dipsomaniac, direct, directing, directive, directorial, directory, discipline, discourse of reason, discursive reason, display, dispose, divert, division, dome, dominant, dope fiend, doper, draft, drinking water, drop, drop head, dropline, drug abuser, drug addict, drug user, drunkard, duck, ead, earing, earth closet, earthling, eau, employer, encephalon, endleaf, endpaper, endsheet, engineer, entirely, epigraph, epitome, errata, esprit, essence, estate, facade, face, facet, facia, faculty, fellow, fend off, fiend, first, first place, flair, fleece, floor manager, floorman, floorwalker, flyleaf, foam, focus of attention, focus of interest, folio, font, foot, fore, fore edge, fore-and-aft sail, forefront, foreground, forehand, foreland, foreman, foremost, forepart, forequarter, foreside, forestall, foreword, forge ahead, forward, fount, fountainhead, freak, front, front elevation, front man, front matter, front page, front view, frontage, frontal, frontier, frontispiece, frost, froth, fugleman, fully, gaffer, ganger, general, genesis, genius, get ahead of, get before, gist, glue sniffer, go, go before, go for, go in advance, gourd, govern, governing, governor, grade, grass roots, gravitate, gray matter, ground water, groundling, group, grouping, guide, guiding, guillotine, guy, habitual, half-title page, hand, handle, hanger, hard water, have a tendency, have priority, have the start, head of hair, head off, head over heels, head the line, head the table, head up, heading, headland, headline, headman, headmaster, headmistress, headmost, headpiece, headstream, headwater, headwaters, heavy smoker, heavy water, hegemonic, hegemonistic, hierarch, higher-up, highest, hit for, hold a heading, homo, honcho, hook, hophead, human, human being, hustle, hydrol, hydrometeor, hydrosphere, hype, ice, imprint, in ascendancy, in charge, in chief, in the ascendant, inception, incline, index, individual, inhibit, initiate, inscription, inspector, intellect, intellection, intellectual faculty, intelligence, intercept, introduction, invent, issue, jab, jog, joggle, john, johnny, johnny house, joker, jolt, jostle, jump head, junkie, kick off, kin, knack, label, lap, lather, latrine, laureate, lavatory, lay for, lead, lead off, lead on, lead the dance, lead the way, leader, leadership, leading, leaf, lean, leech, legend, level, life, light out, light the way, limewater, living issue, living soul, loaf, locks, loo, look to, luff, madly, maiden, main, main point, make, make for, make the rules, make up to, makeup, man, manage, managerial, managing, managing director, mane, maneuver, manipulate, marijuana smoker, master, mastermind, mat, matter, matter in hand, maximal, maximum, meat, mens, mental capacity, mentality, meridian, meridional, meringue, methhead, mind, mineral water, miniature, monitor, mop, mortal, motif, motive, motto, mousse, move, mull, muslin, narcotics addict, naze, necessary, neck, ness, noddle, noggin, noncommissioned officer, nonpareil, noodle, nose, nous, nudge, nut, obverse, officer, offscum, one, order, organ of thought, origin, original, originate, origination, outhouse, outline, outrank, outstrip, outtop, overarch, overline, overman, overmost, oversee, overseer, overtop, overview, pace, page, pallet, pandect, panicle, paragon, paramount, party, pate, peak, peninsula, perception, perceptiveness, person, personage, personality, pigeonhole, pillhead, pine cone, pinhead, pioneer, plain sail, plunge, point, point at issue, point in question, point to, poke, poll, portrait, portraiture, portrayal, position, pothead, powder room, power of reason, precede, precipitate, precis, predicament, predominant, predominate, preeminent, preface, prefix, preliminaries, premier, prepollent, preponderant, preponderate, prepotent, prescribe, preside over, president, press, press of sail, pressure, prevalent, prevent, primary, prime, prime minister, principal, priority, privy, problem, proceed, proctor, prod, prodigy, profile, promontory, proscenium, provenience, psyche, puff, pull the strings, punch, push, quarterback, question, race, raceme, radical, radix, rag, rain, rainwater, rank, rate, rating, ratio, rationality, reason, reasoning, reasoning faculty, recto, redound to, reduced sail, reef, reef point, reefed sail, regnant, regulate, regulating, regulative, regulatory, reigning, rest room, reverso, review, ridge, rise, riverhead, rocker, root, rubric, rule, ruler, ruling, run, run for, running head, running title, sail, sail for, salt water, sandspit, scalp, scarehead, sconce, screamer, scud, scum, sea foam, sea water, seat of thought, section, senior, sensation, sensorium, sensory, sept, serve, set, set out, set out for, set the pace, set toward, settle, shag, shock, shortened version, shove, show a tendency, signature, silhouette, single, sink, sirdar, skeleton, sketch, skipper, skull, slave driver, smarts, snowbird, soapsuds, soft water, somebody, someone, souffle, soul, source, sovereign, spadix, spearhead, speed freak, spike, spikelet, spindrift, spit, spoondrift, spray, spread, spreadhead, spring water, spume, spur, square sail, stand first, stand in front, stand over, star, start, station, status, steam, steer, steer for, stem, stinging, stock, stop, strain, stratum, straw boss, streamer, stress, strike out, strobile, subdivision, subforeman, subgroup, subhead, subheading, subject, subject matter, subject of thought, suborder, subside, substance, subtitle, suds, summital, super, superintendent, superior, superman, superscription, superstar, supervise, supervisor, supreme, surf, surmount, survey, surveyor, syllabus, synopsis, table of contents, tail, take command, take off, take precedence, take the initiative, take the lead, take the plunge, talent, taproot, taskmaster, tellurian, tend, tend to go, terran, text, thatch, the greatest, the most, theme, thrust, thumbnail sketch, thyrse, tip, tip-top, title, title page, toilet, toilet room, tongue, top, top dog, top off, topic, topical outline, topknot, topmost, train, trend, tresses, trim size, tripper, turn, turning point, type page, ultimate, umbel, understanding, upmost, uppermost, urinal, user, usher in, utterly, van, vanguard, verge, verso, vertical, verticillaster, virtuoso, visitor, ward off, warp, washroom, water, water closet, water vapor, well water, wetting agent, wetting-out agent, white water, wholly, wield authority, wildly, window dressing, wise man, wit, work toward, worldling, zenithal