Adjacent Words

Nose definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

NOSE, n.
1. The prominent part of the face which is the organ of smell, consisting of two similar cavities called nostrils. The nose serves also to modulate the voice in speaking, and to discharge the tears which flow through the lachrymal ducts. Through this organ also the air usually passes in respiration, and it constitutes no small part of the beauty of the face. In man, the nose is situated near the middle of the face; but in quadrupeds, the nose is at or near the lower extremity of the head.
2. The end of any thing; as the nose of a bellows.
3. Scent; sagacity.
We are not offended with a dog for a better nose than his master.
To lead by the nose, to lead blindly.
To be led by the nose, to follow another obsequiously, or to be led without resistance or enquiring the reason.
To thrust one's nose into the affairs of others, to meddle officiously in other people's matters; to be a busy-body.
To put one's nose out of joint, to alienate the affections from another.
NOSE, v.t.
1. To small; to scent.
2. To face; to oppose to the face.
NOSE, v.i. To look big; to bluster. [Not used.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals; "he has a cold in the nose" [syn: nose, olfactory organ]
2: a front that resembles a human nose (especially the front of an aircraft); "the nose of the rocket heated up on reentry"
3: the front or forward projection of a tool or weapon; "he ducked under the nose of the gun"
4: a small distance; "my horse lost the race by a nose"
5: a symbol of inquisitiveness; "keep your nose out of it"
6: the sense of smell (especially in animals); "the hound has a good nose"
7: a natural skill; "he has a nose for good deals"
8: a projecting spout from which a fluid is discharged [syn: nozzle, nose] v
1: search or inquire in a meddlesome way; "This guy is always nosing around the office" [syn: intrude, horn in, pry, nose, poke]
2: advance the forward part of with caution; "She nosed the car into the left lane"
3: catch the scent of; get wind of; "The dog nosed out the drugs" [syn: scent, nose, wind]
4: push or move with the nose
5: rub noses [syn: nuzzle, nose]
6: defeat by a narrow margin

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English nosu; akin to Old High German nasa nose, Latin nasus Date: before 12th century 1. a. the part of the face that bears the nostrils and covers the anterior part of the nasal cavity; broadly this part together with the nasal cavity b. the anterior part of the head at the top or end of the muzzle ; snout, proboscis 2. a. the sense of smell ; olfaction b. aroma, bouquet 3. the vertebrate olfactory organ 4. a. the forward end or projection of something b. the projecting or working end of a tool 5. the stem of a boat or its protective metal covering 6. a. the nose as a symbol of prying or meddling curiosity or interference b. a knack for discovery or understanding <a keen nose for absurdity> II. verb (nosed; nosing) Date: circa 1587 transitive verb 1. to detect by or as if by smell ; scent 2. a. to push or move with the nose b. to move (as a vehicle) ahead slowly or cautiously <nosed my car into the parking space> 3. to touch or rub with the nose ; nuzzle intransitive verb 1. to use the nose in examining, smelling, or showing affection 2. a. to search impertinently ; pry b. poke 2a 3. to move ahead slowly or cautiously <the boat nosed around the bend> 4. to move the forward end in a specified direction <the plane nosed up> 5. to advance into a slight lead <the car nosed ahead on the final stretch>

Britannica Concise

Prominent structure between and below the eyes. With the complex nasal cavity behind it, it functions for breathing and smelling. Behind the front section (vestibule), which includes the nostrils, it is divided vertically by three convoluted ridges (conchae) into air passages. In the highest one, the olfactory region, a small segment of mucous membrane lining contains neurons covered by a moisture layer, in which microscopic particles in inhaled air dissolve and stimulate the neurons. The rest of the cavity warms and moistens inhaled air and filters particles and bacteria out of it. Sinus cavities in the bone on both sides of the nose drain into the air passages. During swallowing, the soft palate closes off the back of the nose against food.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 an organ above the mouth on the face or head of a human or animal, containing nostrils and used for smelling and breathing. 2 a the sense of smell (dogs have a good nose). b the ability to detect a particular thing (a nose for scandal). 3 the odour or perfume of wine, tea, tobacco, hay, etc. 4 the open end or nozzle of a tube, pipe, pair of bellows, retort, etc. 5 a the front end or projecting part of a thing, e.g. of a car or aircraft. b = NOSING. 6 sl. an informer of the police. --v. 1 tr. (often foll. by out) a perceive the smell of, discover by smell. b detect. 2 tr. thrust or rub one's nose against or into, esp. in order to smell. 3 intr. (usu. foll. by about, around, etc.) pry or search. 4 a intr. make one's way cautiously forward. b tr. make (one's or its way). Phrases and idioms: as plain as the nose on your face easily seen. by a nose by a very narrow margin (won the race by a nose). count noses count those present, one's supporters, etc.; decide a question by mere numbers. cut off one's nose to spite one's face disadvantage oneself in the course of trying to disadvantage another. get up a person's nose sl. annoy a person. keep one's nose clean sl. stay out of trouble, behave properly. keep one's nose to the grindstone see GRINDSTONE. nose-cone the cone-shaped nose of a rocket etc. nose-flute a musical instrument blown with the nose in Fiji etc. nose leaf a fleshy part on the nostrils of some bats, used for echo location. nose-monkey the proboscis monkey. nose-piece 1 = NOSEBAND. 2 the part of a helmet etc. protecting the nose. 3 the part of a microscope to which the object-glass is attached. nose-rag sl. a pocket handkerchief. nose-to-tail (of vehicles) moving or stationary one close behind another, esp. in heavy traffic. nose-wheel a landing-wheel under the nose of an aircraft. on the nose 1 US sl. precisely. 2 Austral. sl. annoying. put a person's nose out of joint colloq. embarrass, disconcert, frustrate, or supplant a person. rub a person's nose in it see RUB. see no further than one's nose be short-sighted, esp. in foreseeing the consequences of one's actions etc. speak through one's nose pronounce words with a nasal twang. turn up one's nose (usu. foll. by at) colloq. show disdain. under a person's nose colloq. right before a person (esp. of defiant or unnoticed actions). with one's nose in the air haughtily. Derivatives: nosed adj. (also in comb.). noseless adj. Etymology: OE nosu

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Nose Nose, n. [AS. nosu; akin to D. neus, G. nase, OHG. nasa, Icel. n["o]s, Sw. n["a]sa, Dan. n["a]se, Lith. nosis, Russ. nos', L. nasus, nares, Skr. n[=a]s[=a], n[=a]s. ? Cf. Nasal, Nasturtium, Naze, Nostril, Nozzle.] 1. (Anat.) The prominent part of the face or anterior extremity of the head containing the nostrils and olfactory cavities; the olfactory organ. See Nostril, and Olfactory organ under Olfactory. 2. The power of smelling; hence, scent. We are not offended with a dog for a better nose than his master. --Collier. 3. A projecting end or beak at the front of an object; a snout; a nozzle; a spout; as, the nose of a bellows; the nose of a teakettle. Nose bit (Carp.), a bit similar to a gouge bit, but having a cutting edge on one side of its boring end. Nose hammer (Mach.), a frontal hammer. Nose hole (Glass Making), a small opening in a furnace, before which a globe of crown glass is held and kept soft at the beginning of the flattening process. Nose key (Carp.), a fox wedge. Nose leaf (Zo["o]l.), a thin, broad, membranous fold of skin on the nose of many species of bats. It varies greatly in size and form. Nose of wax, fig., a person who is pliant and easily influenced. ``A nose of wax to be turned every way.'' --Massinger Nose piece, the nozzle of a pipe, hose, bellows, etc.; the end piece of a microscope body, to which an objective is attached. To hold, put, or bring one's nose to the grindstone. See under Grindstone. To lead by the nose, to lead at pleasure, or to cause to follow submissively; to lead blindly, as a person leads a beast. --Shak. To put one's nose out of joint, to humiliate one's pride, esp. by supplanting one in the affections of another. [Slang] To thrust one's nose into, to meddle officiously in. To wipe one's nose of, to deprive of; to rob. [Slang]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Nose Nose (n[=o]z), v. i. 1. To smell; to sniff; to scent. --Audubon. 2. To pry officiously into what does not concern one.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Nose Nose, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nosed; p. pr. & vb. n. Nosing.] 1. To smell; to scent; hence, to track, or trace out. 2. To touch with the nose; to push the nose into or against; hence, to interfere with; to treat insolently. Lambs . . . nosing the mother's udder. --Tennyson. A sort of national convention, dubious in its nature . . . nosed Parliament in the very seat of its authority. --Burke. 3. To utter in a nasal manner; to pronounce with a nasal twang; as, to nose a prayer. [R.] --Cowley.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Nose Nose, v. t. 1. To confront; be closely face to face or opposite to; meet. 2. To furnish with a nose; as, to nose a stair tread. 3. To examine with the nose or sense of smell. 4. To make by advancing the nose or front end; as, the train nosed its way into the statio; (Racing Slang) to beat by (the length of) a nose.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Nose Nose, v. i. To push or move with the nose or front forward. A train of cable cars came nosing along. --Hamlin Garland.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(noses, nosing, nosed) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. Your nose is the part of your face which sticks out above your mouth. You use it for smelling and breathing. She wiped her nose with a tissue... She's got funny eyes and a big nose. N-COUNT: oft poss N 2. The nose of a vehicle such as a car or aeroplane is the front part of it. Sue parked off the main street, with the van's nose pointing away from the street. N-COUNT: oft poss N 3. You can refer to your sense of smell as your nose. The river that runs through Middlesbrough became ugly on the eye and hard on the nose. N-COUNT 4. If a vehicle noses in a certain direction or if you nose it there, you move it slowly and carefully in that direction. He could not see the driver as the car nosed forward... Ben drove past them, nosing his car into the garage. VERB: V adv/prep, V n prep/adv 5. see also hard-nosed, toffee-nosed 6. If you keep your nose clean, you behave well and stay out of trouble. (INFORMAL) If you kept your nose clean, you had a job for life. PHRASE: V and N inflect 7. If you follow your nose to get to a place, you go straight ahead or follow the most obvious route. Just follow your nose and in about five minutes you're at the old railway. PHRASE: V and N inflect 8. If you follow your nose, you do something in a particular way because you feel it should be done like that, rather than because you are following any plan or rules. You won't have to think, just follow your nose. PHRASE: V and N inflect 9. If you say that someone has a nose for something, you mean that they have a natural ability to find it or recognize it. He had a nose for trouble and a brilliant tactical mind... PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n 10. If you say that someone or something gets up your nose, you mean that they annoy you. (BRIT INFORMAL) He's just getting up my nose so much at the moment. PHRASE: V and N inflect 11. If you say that someone looks down their nose at something or someone, you mean that they believe they are superior to that person or thing and treat them with disrespect. They rather looked down their noses at anyone who couldn't speak French. PHRASE: V and N inflect, usu PHR at n [disapproval] 12. If you say that you paid through the nose for something, you are emphasizing that you had to pay what you consider too high a price for it. (INFORMAL) We don't like paying through the nose for our wine when eating out. PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR for n [emphasis] 13. If someone pokes their nose into something or sticks their nose into something, they try to interfere with it even though it does not concern them. (INFORMAL) We don't like strangers who poke their noses into our affairs... Why did you have to stick your nose in? = meddle PHRASE: V and N inflect, PHR n [disapproval] 14. To rub someone's nose in something that they do not want to think about, such as a failing or a mistake they have made, means to remind them repeatedly about it. (INFORMAL) His enemies will attempt to rub his nose in past policy statements. PHRASE: V and N inflect, PHR n 15. If you say that someone is cutting off their nose to spite their face, you mean they do something that they think will hurt someone, without realizing or caring that it will hurt themselves as well. There is evidence that the industry's greed means that it is cutting off its nose to spite its face. PHRASE: V inflects [disapproval] 16. If vehicles are nose to tail, the front of one vehicle is close behind the back of another. (mainly BRIT; in AM, use bumper-to-bumper) ...a line of about twenty fast-moving trucks driving nose to tail. PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v 17. If you thumb your nose at someone, you behave in a way that shows that you do not care what they think. He has always thumbed his nose at the media. PHRASE: V and N inflect, usu PHR at n 18. If you turn up your nose at something, you reject it because you think that it is not good enough for you. I'm not in a financial position to turn up my nose at several hundred thousand pounds. PHRASE: V and N inflect, usu PHR at n 19. If you do something under someone's nose, you do it right in front of them, without trying to hide it from them. Okay so have an affair, but not right under my nose. PHRASE: N inflects 20. to put someone's nose out of joint: see joint

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

As plain as the nose on your face; evidently to be seen. He is led by the nose; he is governed. To follow one's nose; to go strait forward. To put one's nose out of joint; to rival one in the favour of any person. To make a bridge of any one's nose; to pass by him in drinking. To nose a stink; to smell it. He cut off his nose to be revenged of his face; said of one who, to be revenged on his neighbour, has materially injured himself.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

A man who informs or turns king's evidence.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

To give evidence. To inform. His pall nosed and he was twisted for a crack; his confederate turned king's evidence, and he was hanged for burglary.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

To bully.

Foolish Dictionary

A prominent member of the face family, usually a Greek or Roman, who owns the shortest bridge in the world. He is often stuck up in company, but frequently blows himself when he has his grippe. Principal occupations, sniffling, snivelling, sneezing, snorting and scenting, intruding in the neighbors' affairs, stuffing himself without permission and bleeding for others.

Moby Thesaurus

Adamite, Paul Pry, Paul-Pry, antlia, aptness, beak, beezer, being, bent, bib nozzle, bill, body, bow, bowsprit, breathe, breathe in, bugle, bump, busybody, butt-in, caress, cat, chap, character, conk, creature, customer, duck, earthling, faculty, feel up, fellow, figurehead, flair, follow, follow a clue, follow up, fondle, fool with, forecastle, foredeck, forepeak, genius, groundling, guy, hand, head, homo, human, human being, hunt down, individual, inhale, intermeddle, jib boom, joker, kibitz, kibitzer, knack, knead, life, living soul, man, massage, meddle, meddle with, meddler, mess with, monkey with, mortal, mouse, muffle, muzzle, nares, neb, nib, nose out, nostrils, nozzle, nuzzle, olfactories, olfactory area, olfactory cell, olfactory nerves, olfactory organ, olfactory pit, one, party, pecker, peek, peep, person, personage, personality, pet, poke, pragmatist, pressure nozzle, prier, proboscis, prore, prow, pry, quidnunc, rhinarium, rose, rosehead, rostrum, rub, rub against, rub noses, rubberneck, run down, run to earth, scent, schnozzle, shadow, shower head, single, smell, smell of, smell out, smeller, sniff, sniff out, snitch, snook, snoop, snoot, snout, snuff, snuffle, somebody, someone, soul, spray nozzle, sprinkler head, spy, stalk, stem, stroke, tail, talent, tamper with, tellurian, terran, trace, trace down, track, track down, trail, trunk, whiff, worldling