head head /ˈhɛd/

noun

1. () The upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains  ( caput , head )
   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
   he stuck his head out the window
   
   
2. () A single domestic animal  ( head )
   a single domestic animal
    200 head of cattle
   200 head of cattle
   
   
3. () That which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason  ( nous , psyche , brain , head , mind )
   that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason
    His mind wandered
   his mind wandered
    I couldn't get his words out of my head
   I couldn't get his words out of my head
   
   
4. () (military) the front of a military formation or procession  ( head )
   (military) the front of a military formation or procession
    The head of the column advanced boldly
   the head of the column advanced boldly
    They were at the head of the attack
   they were at the head of the attack
   
5. () A person who is in charge  ( top dog [Informal] , chief , head )
   a person who is in charge
    The head of the whole operation
   the head of the whole operation
   
6. () The pressure exerted by a fluid  ( head )
   the pressure exerted by a fluid
    A head of steam
   a head of steam
   
7. () (grammar) the word in a grammatical constituent that plays the same grammatical role as the whole constituent  ( head word , head )
   (grammar) the word in a grammatical constituent that plays the same grammatical role as the whole constituent
   
8. () The source of water from which a stream arises  ( fountainhead , headspring , head )
   the source of water from which a stream arises
    They tracked him back toward the head of the stream
   they tracked him back toward the head of the stream
   
   
9. () The top of something  ( head )
   the top of something
    The head of the stairs
   the head of the stairs
    The head of the page
   the head of the page
    The head of the list
   the head of the list
   
10. [Vulgar] Oral stimulation of the genitals  ( head [Vulgar] , oral sex )
    oral stimulation of the genitals
     They say he gives good head
    they say he gives good head
    
    
11. A membrane that is stretched taut over a drum  ( head , drumhead )
    a membrane that is stretched taut over a drum
     The drummer tightened the drumhead to achieve the desired sound.
    The drummer tightened the drumhead to achieve the desired sound.
    
    
12. A projection out from one end  ( head )
    a projection out from one end
     The head of the nail
    the head of the nail
     A pinhead is the head of a pin
    a pinhead is the head of a pin
    
    
13. (nautical) a toilet on board a boat or ship  ( head )
    (nautical) a toilet on board a boat or ship
     Before we set sail, the skipper instructed everyone on how to use the head.
    Before we set sail, the skipper instructed everyone on how to use the head.
    
    
14. The striking part of a tool  ( head )
    the striking part of a tool
     The head of the hammer
    the head of the hammer
    
    
15. (usually plural) the obverse side of a coin that usually bears the representation of a person's head  ( head )
    (usually plural) the obverse side of a coin that usually bears the representation of a person's head
     Call heads or tails!
    call heads or tails!
    
16. (computing) a tiny electromagnetic coil and metal pole used to write and read magnetic patterns on a disk  ( head , read/write head )
    (computing) a tiny electromagnetic coil and metal pole used to write and read magnetic patterns on a disk
    
    
17. That part of a skeletal muscle that is away from the bone that it moves  ( head )
    that part of a skeletal muscle that is away from the bone that it moves
     He injured the head of his bicep while lifting weights.
    He injured the head of his bicep while lifting weights.
    
    
18. The rounded end of a bone that fits into a rounded cavity in another bone to form a joint  ( head )
    the rounded end of a bone that fits into a rounded cavity in another bone to form a joint
     The head of the humerus
    the head of the humerus
    
19. A line of text serving to indicate what the passage below it is about  ( head , header , heading )
    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
    the heading seemed to have little to do with the text
    
20. The subject matter at issue  ( head , question )
    the subject matter at issue
     The question of disease merits serious discussion
    the question of disease merits serious discussion
     Under the head of minor Roman poets
    under the head of minor Roman poets
    
21. A V-shaped mark at one end of an arrow pointer  ( head , point )
    a V-shaped mark at one end of an arrow pointer
     The point of the arrow was due north
    the point of the arrow was due north
    
22. Forward movement  ( head , headway )
    forward movement
     The ship made little headway against the gale
    the ship made little headway against the gale
    
23. A difficult juncture  ( head , pass , straits )
    a difficult juncture
     A pretty pass
    a pretty pass
     Matters came to a head yesterday
    matters came to a head yesterday
    
24. The part in the front or nearest the viewer  ( forefront , head )
    the part in the front or nearest the viewer
     He was in the forefront
    he was in the forefront
     He was at the head of the column
    he was at the head of the column
    
25. The foam or froth that accumulates at the top when you pour an effervescent liquid into a container  ( head )
    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
    the beer had a large head of foam
    
26. A rounded compact mass  ( head )
    a rounded compact mass
     The head of a comet
    the head of a comet
    
27. A natural elevation (especially a rocky one that juts out into the sea)  ( foreland , head , promontory , headland )
    a natural elevation (especially a rocky one that juts out into the sea)
      The solitary headland jutted out into the turbulent sea, offering a dramatic backdrop to the coastal scenery.
    The solitary headland jutted out into the turbulent sea, offering a dramatic backdrop to the coastal scenery.
    
    
28. A user of (usually soft) drugs  ( head )
    a user of (usually soft) drugs
     The office was full of secret heads
    the office was full of secret heads
    
29. An individual person  ( head )
    an individual person
     Tickets are $5 per head
    tickets are $5 per head
    
30. The educator who has executive authority for a school  ( head , head teacher , principal , school principal )
    the educator who has executive authority for a school
     She sent unruly pupils to see the principal
    she sent unruly pupils to see the principal
    
31. A dense cluster of flowers or foliage  ( capitulum , head )
    a dense cluster of flowers or foliage
     A head of cauliflower
    a head of cauliflower
     A head of lettuce
    a head of lettuce
    
32. The length or height based on the size of a human or animal head  ( head )
    the length or height based on the size of a human or animal head
     He is two heads taller than his little sister
    he is two heads taller than his little sister
     His horse won by a head
    his horse won by a head
    
33. The tip of an abscess (where the pus accumulates)  ( head )
    the tip of an abscess (where the pus accumulates)
    

verb

1. () To go or travel towards  ( head )
   to go or travel towards
    Where is she heading
   where is she heading
    We were headed for the mountains
   We were headed for the mountains
   
2. () Be in charge of  ( lead , head )
   be in charge of
    Who is heading this project?
   Who is heading this project?
   
3. () Travel in front of; go in advance of others  ( head , lead )
   travel in front of; go in advance of others
    The procession was headed by John
   The procession was headed by John
   
4. () Direct the course; determine the direction of travelling  ( channelise , channelize , direct , head , maneuver , manoeuver , manoeuvre , point , steer , guide )
   direct the course; determine the direction of travelling
   
5. () Be the first or leading member of (a group) and excel  ( head , head up )
   be the first or leading member of (a group) and excel
    This student heads the class
   This student heads the class
   
6. Remove the head of  ( head )
   remove the head of
    Head the fish
   head the fish
   
7. Form a head, come or grow to a head  ( head )
   form a head, come or grow to a head
    The wheat headed early this year
   The wheat headed early this year
   
8. Be in the front of or on top of  ( head )
   be in the front of or on top of
    The list was headed by the name of the president
   The list was headed by the name of the president
   
9. Take its rise  ( head )
   take its rise
    These rivers head from a mountain range in the Himalayas
   These rivers head from a mountain range in the Himalayas